The subsequent fate of the station
After an accident on the 4 th power-plant operation was suspended because of dangerous radiation. However, in October 1986, after extensive decontamination area and built "sarcophagus", 1 st and 2 nd power units were again put into operation, in December 1987, reactivated the third.
December 25, 1995, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of Ukraine and Governments of the Group of Seven and the Commission of the European Union, under which started to develop a program of complete closure of the station by 2000. The decision on the final stop unit № 1 accepted November 30, 1996, unit № 2 - March 15, 1999
29 March 2000 adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine № 598 "On early termination of the operation of power unit № 3 and the final closure of Chornobyl NPP. December 15, 2000 in 13 hours 17 minutes on the orders of President during the broadcast teleconference Chernobyl NPP - National palace "Ukraine" by turning the key emergency protection (EP-5) permanently shut down the reactor power unit № 3 of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The station stopped generating electricity.
The sarcophagus was built over the fourth, exploded, power is gradually being destroyed. The danger, in case it collapses, is mainly determined by how much radioactive material is inside it. According to official statistics, this figure reaches 95% of the amount that was at the time of the accident. If this estimate is correct, then the destruction of shelter can lead to very large emissions.
In March 2004 the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development announced a tender for the design, construction and commissioning of a new sarcophagus for Chernobyl. The winner of the tender in August 2007 was recognized as the company NOVARKA, a joint venture of French company Vinci Construction Grands Projets and BOUYGUES.