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This press release was originally distributed via the eWire press wire service (2002–2016). It is preserved here as a historical record.
EUROTECH'S Radiation-Resistant EKOR Applied in New Role of Radioactive Dust Suppression at Chernobyl
ARCHIVED 2002–2016: Originally distributed via the eWire press wire service. Preserved as historical record.
EUROTECH'S Radiation-Resistant EKOR Applied in New Role of Radioactive Dust Suppression at Chernobyl
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For Immediate Release
EUROTECH'S Radiation-Resistant EKOR Applied in New Role of Radioactive Dust Suppression at Chernobyl
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, Jun. 11 -/E-Wire/-- EUROTECH, Ltd., (AMEX: EUO), announced today that new EKOR applications were successfully applied at the site of Chernobyl's reactor accident to address additional critical problems resulting from the nuclear reactor failure - radioactive dust suppression and decontamination of the surfaces.
The successful encapsulation of a fuel-containing mass with EKOR under the failed Reactor No. 4 inside the sarcophagus in March 2000 encouraged Chernobyl's Shelter Management to move forward with these additional field application developments.
The new applications of EKOR at Chernobyl were made to the radioactive dust-covered surface areas in a main pumping room inside the sarcophagus. These surface applications were designed to fix radioactive dust in place, preventing its dispersion, as well as, enable decontamination of the surface area.
Until the tons of scattered fuel and contaminated debris can be removed from the sarcophagus, an EKOR protective blanket can preclude radioactive dust from being released to the environment and also increase the safety of the planned construction works at the Shelter. EKOR can also enhance the safe removal of the debris, its transportation and final disposal.
The Shelter managers stated that before EKOR was available, attempts to use conventional materials in the role of dust suppression only resulted in their rapid decomposition in the radiation environment. Each of the EKOR applications has convincingly demonstrated that EKOR has all of the features necessary for making the Shelter into a safer environment.
Under a 1995 agreement with Chernobyl's Shelter Management, Eurotech supplied radiation-resistant EKOR material to the Shelter for the development of EKOR applications to remedy radioactive contamination problems from Reactor No. 4 that have been unresolved since the 1986 accident.
Under this agreement the Shelter Team applied the first EKOR in March 2000, to encapsulate a molten fuel pile inside of the sarcophagus. Since that application fifteen months ago, EKOR has demonstrated its ability to perform as designed at the world's most challenging nuclear waste site.
EKOR was lab-tested to maintain its encapsulating properties for the equivalent over 1000 years in the present corrosive radiation environment being demonstrated at Chernobyl.
In their recent report, Chernobyl's Shelter Management stated that EKOR's performance remains unchanged after an accumulated radiation dose of greater than 10.5 megarads gamma, neutron exposure, confirming the tests of radiation, adhesion, and resistance to other aggressive mediums.
The broadened use of EKOR demonstrating its effectiveness at Chernobyl, and Ukraine's certification of EKOR for wider application, make the radiation-resistant EKOR a feasible solution for many containment challenges at the accident site.
Over the last year, Eurotech, established commercial production of EKOR in North America and tested EKOR to US standards for use on Department of Energy nuclear sites.
EKOR is now available to US and international nuclear waste managers as a long-term solution to difficult containment, transportation, storage and disposal problems. For photographs of EKOR applications inside Chernobyl's sarcophagus and additional information about Eurotech, visit the Company website www.eurotechltd.com.
Certain information and statements included in this release constitute "forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Federal Privates Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements.
http://www.eurotechltd.com
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