Chornobyl nuclear power plant site to be cleared by 2065

A law on the state program for decommissioning the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and transforming the Shelter facility into an environmentally safe system took effect. According to the law, the program is aimed at implementing government policy to protect staff, the surrounding population, and the environment from radiation from the Chornobyl NPP.

The program will be implemented in several stages. The first stage envisages the removal of nuclear fuel to storage facilities. This is to be completed no earlier than 2013. The second stage envisages the final closure and deactivation of reactors by 2022. The third stage (by 2045) involves maintaining the reactors until radiation drops to acceptable levels. The final stage (by 2065) involves dismantling the reactors and clearing the site to ensure that restrictions and regulatory controls are lifted to the maximum extent possible.