CHERNOBYL

Building the Plant

Construction of the Chernobyl plant begins in the early 1970s. The first reactor starts in 1977, followed by the second in 1978, the third in 1981, and the famous fourth in 1983. Reactors five and six were under construction when the accident occurred. 12,500 employees managed the four reactors at 1 GW each. Work was at the plant and housing was in Pripyat.