A rise in radiation readings reported at Chornobyl plant (09/22/96)

A rise in radiation readings reported at Chornobyl plant

KYIV - Neutron radiation readings rose inside the Chornobyl nuclear power station's ruined fourth reactor, focusing fresh attention on the cracking structure 10 years after the world's biggest nuclear disaster, reported Reuters.

Officials at the station said on September 17 that recorded neutron activity and radiation levels had climbed sharply twice in the past week inside the steel and concrete sarcophagus surrounding the reactor.

Ukraine's nuclear authority set up a commission to investigate the September 12 and 16 incidents.

Ukrainian officials say rebuilding the sarcophagus is the top priority in making safe and closing down the Chornobyl plant, where two reactors still produce 5 percent of the country's electricity.

Experts said on September 18 that abnormal readings in the sarcophagus housing the Chornobyl nuclear plant's ruined fourth reactor posed no immediate threat but stressed that the cracking structure had to be replaced.

In Vienna, Ukraine's top negotiator on closing Chornobyl acknowledged the increase of neutron activity inside the sarcophagus, which was hurriedly erected after the fire and explosion at the plant 10 years ago. But Environment Minister Yuri Kostenko, attending an International Atomic Energy Agency conference, said there had been no rise in radiation or temperature. He suggested faulty meters could have given rogue readings, but said if the readings were true they needed quick investigation.

The European Commission, which has pledged hundreds of millions of dollars to help shut the plant, urged Ukraine to provide full information on the increased readings.

President Leonid Kuchma's press secretary, Dmytro Markov, said the president was alarmed at what Ukraine saw as slow progress in releasing more than $3 billion promised by the Group of Seven wealthy countries to close the Chornobyl plant.

"The president hopes that in the near future the aid process will be speeded up and that this will enable Ukraine to meet its commitment to shut down Chornobyl," Mr. Markov said. "We see the sarcophagus as the main problem. This is truly an international problem to be resolved together."