Holtec's Chernobyl Interim Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage Facility Welcomes World's Dignitaries Assembled to Mark the 30th Anniversary of the Epochal Disaster

Holtec's Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (abbreviated as "ISF-2") at the Chernobyl Industrial Site being built to house the used fuel assemblies from the site's three shuttered reactors is nearing completion. Reportedly the world's largest Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility, ISF-2 was a must-stop for the scores of dignitaries, including Ukraine's President Poroshenko, who came to observe the 30th anniversary of the Chernobyl Unit 4 plant's demise. Ukraine President Poroshenko, escorted by Holtec's president, Dr. Kris Singh (photos below), appearing genuinely impressed by the expansive silhouette of the facility, expressed his gratitude for Holtec's service to his country.

The Chernobyl ISF-2 facility is a technology record setter in many respects. The unique features of the Chernobyl dry storage facility include the world's largest “hot cell" for dismembering the conjugated RBMK fuel assembly and a (Holtec patented) forced gas dehydrator designed to run on nitrogen. Holtec undertook to build the facility after the original contractor, Areva, ended its contract with the Chernobyl plant in 2007. Holtec's Preliminary Safety Analysis report was approved by the Ukrainian regulator in 2010 and detailed design, manufacturing and construction planning began shortly afterwards. Pre-commissioning trials are scheduled to begin in November 2016. The photographs below provide an overview of the ongoing site construction.