It has been 20 years since the one of the biggest disasters mankind ever faced. When Chernobyl nuclear power plant’s reactor 4 was burnt and collapsed partially in 1986, radiaoactive materials started to contaminate the air and soil. The effects of the radioactive contamination is still alive around the region. The 180 tons of plutonium charged, melted lava with a half-life of around 24.000 years still lays inside the reactor 4 building. That means, this dangerous debris will exist there virtually forever until it loses its power. The same applies to the particules spreaded around to soil. The radioactivity of the soil until 20cm deep is still existing around the 30km of the Chernobyl Plant. People living around the region are not allowed to approach to the plant ,however the contamination carried by underground water and agricultural products still affects the future generations. The closest town to the reactor, Prypiat became a ghost town, which was evacuated immediatly after the accident in the reactor.



The “sarcophagus” built over the rector 4 just after the disaster was a temporary shield to block the radioactive emmision. It was built by limited construction abilites of the Ukranian government with the financial support of G-7 countries. Today this “sarcophagus” has been over 20 years old and it gives signs of disintegration and collapse. The relatively weak economy of Ukranian government does not afford this vital building to be maintained regularly for years.

The new sarcophagus project is carried by a fund called “Chernobyl Shelter Fund” with financial supports from G-7 countries. The estimated budget for the construction of this arched building is around US$ 768 million. The overall new project is coordinated by the “European Bank for Reconstruction and Development”. The new shelter is expected to be finished in 2009 but actually the project seems to be stopped. The EBRD site marks the project as inactive.

The existing schelter shows signs of heavy decay after 20 years. Cracks and holes on the roof let water in more importantly let the heavily contaminated dust go out and mix with air. An earthquake in 6 scale in Richter may cause the temporary shelter and the reactor building to collapse. The 180 tons of plutonium contaminated debris, laying inside the reactor, makes this building maybe the most important in the world. It deserves the highest attention in order to be fully sealed for years. The new shelter planned is obviously the most important building the mankind ever built. It is hoped that it will last for thousands of years until the radioactive debris finishes its life.