President Petro Poroshenko took part in the ceremony of completing the installation of the Arch over the “Shelter” object of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant.
The Head of State congratulated everyone on this truly historic event as new safe confinement will allow further protection of Ukraine and the world from nuclear peril.
“30 years ago the largest man-made disaster happened in Chornobyl. 30 years ago dozens and hundreds of thousands heroes of Chornobyl made everything to protect the world from nuclear menace. In 260 days of heroic efforts the team of 90 thousand heroes of Chornobyl built a sarcophagus designed to protect Kyiv, Ukraine and the world from nuclear contamination for exactly 30 years. 30 years after we are here, a hundred meters from the fourth power unit of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, finishing historic construction,” Petro Poroshenko said during his speech.
The President called the new shelter a unique construction, which combines the efforts of Ukraine and 28 countries-donors who raised over 1 billion 417 million euros. The project involved 10 thousand workers from various countries. A total of 40 countries took part in the construction.
“Someone compared this object with the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty. This truly is a unique object 110 meters high, 257 meters wide and 164 meters long. This is the biggest moveable construction ever created by humanity in the world,” he emphasized.
The Head of State expressed special gratitude to the G7 countries whose ambassadors extraordinary and plenipotentiary took part in the event today. USA, Great Britain, France, Japan, Germany, Canada, Italy and other countries assisted in the construction of the Shelter. Huge role was also played by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
“The main role belongs to Ukrainians and representatives of other countries who built this unique object together,” Petro Poroshenko stressed.
The President expressed special gratitude to Novarka, French joint venture formed by Vinci and Bouygues companies who thoroughly designed and built this new safe confinement. Today they guarantee 100 years of radiation safety.
“Many people had doubts and didn’t believe… However, I congratulate you, dear friends. Yes, we did it,” the President addressed the attendees.
“Let the whole world see what Ukraine and the world can do when they unite. How we can protect the world from nuclear contamination and nuclear threat. It would be great to further maintain this strong solidarity for the sake of peace,” he said.
Petro Poroshenko noted that Ukraine endured difficult conditions currently: “Nobody could have imagined that the challenge of Chornobyl wouldn’t be the worst and the most dreadful one for Ukraine”.
The Head of State stressed that Ukraine was building new safe confinement in war conditions defending from Russian aggression. “We are defending with solidarity of all countries of the world who are together with us in these difficult times. And I wish the world, our allies and Ukraine to keep this unity. For it allows us to build not only the biggest and the best confinements and shelters, but also new, brilliant, fantastic European country – Ukraine,” Petro Poroshenko said.
The President presented state awards to the officials of the State Specialized Enterprise “Chornobyl NPP” and specialists engaged in the elaboration and implementation of the project for their significant personal contribution to the process of overcoming consequences of the Chornobyl disaster, exemplary performance of professional duties and high professionalism demonstrated in the course of the construction of new safe confinement (Arch).