On November 24, 2012, at the Chernobyl NPP Shelter Object site the first lifting of the East part of the Arch with weight of 5,300 t up to height of 22 m was performed. This has become another achievement in constructing the New Safe Confinement. In total, three lifting operations will be performed for the East part of the Arch.

On 23^rd of November metal structures of the Arch and the jacking system were completely inspected. The load of 100% was imposed on this system by lifting the Arch for 100 mm. Following that, operability of the jacking system was controlled and geodetic survey of position of the Arch’s metal structures and foundations was carried out.

The lifting operations are performed using 40 strand jacks, placed at 10 lifting towers. Each tower is 45 m high.

A great scope of preparatory works was implemented prior to the first lifting of the Arch. The area was cleaned-up from trees, bushes and construction debris, resulted from dismantling of buildings and structures. More than 57,733 m³of technological materials and solid RAW was removed from the Shelter Object industrial site. The Arch’s foundations, lifting towers and the erection area’s platforms of 57,667 m² in area were constructed.