November 11th, 2011 at 3 pm on the second stage of ChNPP (third and fourth units of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant) goes the process of installing a new ventilation stack. In connection with the construction of the NSC (new safe confinement) of the damaged Unit 4 ChNPP, it became necessary to replace the old ventilation stack and to install a new pipe, the smaller size. The height of the new shelter is a little over 100 meters and the old 150–meter pipe does not fit into the project. After installing the new ventilation stack, old pipe will be dismantled and the second stage of Chornobyl NPP (3 and 4 blocks) will lose forever its usual shape.

ChNPP. Installation of the new ventilation stack of the second stage of Chornobyl NPP

Cold autumn day, November 11, 2011. Partly cloudy, not clear is it morning, evening or day time. Occasionally it half–snow, half–rain. We are on the viewing platform Shelter along with the crew of German television channel ZDF.

“Alex! Shoot quickly, this is a historic moment! Look, they put a new ventilation stack of the Chornobyl NPP.”
Alex Detig and Max Beeker pulled out of the car video camera and a tripod.
“Guys, you're in luck — these shots will go down in history.”

I feel sorry for the old pipe, which for 25 years became a symbol not only of Chornobyl NPP, but the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, and any industrial disasters at all. Yes, I'm really sorry for the red and white, striped, dressed in a rebar, ventilation stack by which any citizen of planet Earth could accurately determine the location: Chornobyl, ChNPP... In the meantime, as the old ventilation stack is still not dismantled yet, we can appreciate a unique view of the second stage: the third and fourth units of CnNPP with two pipes.

On November 16 and 17. Installation of the new ventilation stack continues.

On November 22.

On November 29. Installation of the new ventilation stack of the second stage of Chornobyl NPP is completed.