Ukraine set to reuse 22 tons of decontaminated steel from Chernobyl

Ukraine’s nuclear regulator, the State Nuclear Regulatory Inspectorate of Ukraine (SNRIU), has approved the reuse of 22 tons of decontaminated carbon steel from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (ChNPP). This marks the first time materials previously classified as radioactive have been cleared for industrial reuse in Ukraine, following rigorous gamma-spectrometric monitoring at the newly operational Free Release Facility (FRM-03). The facility, funded by the European Union’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation, began industrial operation in September 2025 and can process up to 10 tonnes of material daily. It was developed to support the ongoing decommissioning of the Chernobyl site and underwent extensive safety examinations and pilot testing before approval for commercial use. The reuse of this steel offers both environmental and economic benefits by reducing the volume of radioactive waste requiring long-term disposal and redirecting funds toward decommissioning efforts, thereby easing the financial burden on Ukraine’s state budget. The SNRIU emphasized that