IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

IEEJ Forum
Tokyo, Japan, 5 November 2013

Safe Disposal of Radioactive Waste as theKey to the Sustainable Use of Nuclear Energy
Irena MeleIAEA, Nuclear Energy Department

International Atomic Energy Agency

International Atomic Energy AgencyInternational Atomic Energy Agency

IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

Nuclear energy remains an option

OperatingOperating with plans
to expandConsidering nuclear
power introduction

Operating andConstructing

1st NPP UnderConstruction

Decided to introduce
nuclear power

International Atomic Energy Agency

IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

New countries remain interested
20102011

2012

Phase 3First nuclear power plant started
construction/ under construction

101

Phase 3First nuclear power plant ordered

232

Phase 2

Decided to introduce nuclear
power and started preparing theappropriate infrastructure

1066

Phase 1

7Active preparation for a possible
nuclear power programme with nofinal decision
Considering Nuclear Power
14Programme
34

6

614

132928Phase 1Total

International Atomic Energy Agency

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Radioactive Waste (RW) Still a Concerns• Radioactive waste as a byproduct raises numerous
concerns in public• Radioactive waste is one of mainarguments against further use or
expansion of nuclear energy• Consistent RW managementwith primary goal to protect
people and the environment fromthe harmful effects of ionizing
radiation of high importance forthe sustainability of nuclearpower
International Atomic Energy Agency

IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

What is needed for consistent RWM?

• Adequate legislative and regulatory framework
for RW and spent fuel (SF) management• Adequate RWM system• Clear allocation of responsibilities for RWM• Necessary capabilities (facilities, human resources)• System for financing RWM

National RWM policy
RWM Strategy
International Atomic Energy Agency

IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

What is needed for consistent RWM?

Clear and consistent
implementation plan

Implementation inconsultations with public
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L/IL Radioactive Waste Inventories

International Atomic Energy Agency

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Global Inventory of Spent Nuclear FuelInternational Atomic Energy Agency

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Disposal solutions availableVSLWVLLW

LLW

Activity, half-life

International Atomic Energy Agency

ILWHLWIEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

How successful are we in implementing?

• Disposal of RW and SF recognized as the only finalsolution• Current situation in Member States:• 25 countries already have repositories for L/ILW• First repositories for SF and HLW expected in nextdecade• In many countries still no clear policies andstrategies/programmes for waste disposal• In newcomer countries main focus on power needs andNPP construction – little consideration of spent fuel andwaste management needs
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Disposal facilities for VLLW, LLW or ILW

Near Surface Repository

VLLW

International Atomic Energy Agency

LLW

ILW

Geological Repository

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Trench type disposal concepts
NTS - Area 5Richland

Centre de l’Aube

Peña Blanca

EzeizaEl Cabril

Vaalputs
International Atomic Energy Agency

IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

Engineered near-surface disposal concepts
La Manche

El Cabril

Mochovce
L’Aube - CSA

RokkashoInternational Atomic Energy Agency

BeilongDukovany
NorthWestIEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

LLW/ILW disposal in geological formations

SFR

Bátaapáti

Olkiluoto
Wolsong

WIPP
Morsleben
International Atomic Energy Agency

KonradIEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

Disposal for very small inventories

Borehole Disposal Facility

Project developments:
South Africa
Ghana, Malaysia,
Philippines, Brazil…
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HLW/SF Disposal

International Atomic Energy Agency

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HLW/SF disposal

SwedenFinlandFranceInternational Atomic Energy Agency

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Addressing New Challenges• Remediation after a nuclear accident/emergency
generates very large amounts of waste (Chernobyl,Fukushima)• Managing large volumes of waste after an emergency isunique challenge:• Technical solutions• Economic aspects• Public acceptance/societal issues• Licensing issues• Development of safety case
• Timing• Solution to this problem has strong impact on publicperception
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IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

Impact of RW Management• Nuclear power is a complex issue that raisesmany concerns in public and among decisionmakers• RW management perceived as the mostproblematic• Avoiding or delaying to address waste issue iscontra-productive• No easy solution → requires efforts of government(s),nuclear industry,
regulators,
implementors→ hard and consistent workover many decades
International Atomic Energy Agency

IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

How is IAEA Contributing?
• Encourages use of internationally agreed safety standards for RWM,
decommissioning and environmental remediation• Supports establishment of• national policy for RWM, decommissioning and remediation and• strategies for their implementation in each country using nuclear power or
technology (including newcomer countries)• Addressing specific aspects and challenges (large volumes of waste,
disposal of small inventories,..)• Supports countries in developing or strengthening theircapacities/capabilities for RWM, decommissioning and environmental
remediation• Encourages and supports cooperation, sharing of knowledge andexperience including lessons learned from accidents
International Atomic Energy Agency

IEEJ: November 2013 All Right Reserved

In Conclusion• RWM shows significant progress and achievements but
further efforts are needed to demonstrate sustainability :• successful implementation of SF/HLW disposal• Implementation of adequate RWM solutions in all countries using
nuclear technologies• Crucial for success:• Nuclear industry needs to demonstrate its maturity by due care ofliabilities including SF and RWM• Political commitment and stable support• Transparent and dedicated work of implementers• New challenges in RWM (large volumes of waste after
an emergency, disposal of small inventories, newcomercountries..) need to be adequately addressedInternational Atomic Energy Agency

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In Conclusion• IAEA urges all advanced programmes to continue:• Sharing information and knowledge with less advanced
programmes and international community• Supporting the IAEA in its efforts to assist countries lacking
disposal solutions• IAEA ready to assist Member States in:• building RWM infrastructure• implementing disposal solutions• addressing new challenges

Contact: report@tky.ieej.or.jp

International Atomic Energy Agency