A PONTYPOOL firm, who have helped to create the world’s largest moving building at the site of a nuclear disaster, will be helped to install the giant structure before Christmas.

Flamgard Calidair have provided the fire and shut off dampers for the Chernobyl New Safe Confinement, a €1.5bn multinational engineering project.

The structure will be used to monitor and demolish the previous containment building, following the disaster in 1986 while securing radioactive material.

Flamgard’s managing director Steve Edwards said: “The story of Chernobyl is one of history’s most tragic. But while the neighbouring town of Pripyat is still an unoccupied ghost town exclusion zone, there is some hope for the future of the Chernobyl site with this project.

“In engineering terms, there can be few live projects in the world right now that are as important and as ambitious as the New Safe Confinement.

The arched building will simply be rolled into position over the existing site before being sealed up and the project has taken around 10 years from concept to completion.

The site still houses highly radioactive material and attempts to work on its demolition are too challenging.

Mr Edwards praised the role of the Welsh firm in help to make safe on of the world’s most infamous disaster sites.

“This was a major international contract for Flamgard us and we’ve been exceptionally proud to play our part in it.,” he said.

“It’s been a real journey to this point and we’ve gained invaluable experience. We went to the Ukraine several to the site and were within 50 metres of Reactor 4 which caused the incident.

“It’s been a real team effort from Wales, with all of our 60 staff working to help protect the area after one of the world’s largest and most infamous disasters.”