The objective of the Project
is to implement safe, timely and cost-effective decommissioning
of the RA reactor up to unrestricted use of the site. Realization
of this Project relies upon two interrelated projects: Radioactive
Waste Disposal and Spent Fuel Transport. Vinča Institute has
no general decommissioning plan for the nuclear facilities
and the first step would be to prepare it as soon as possible.
Planning
and operation activities include: preparation of detailed decommissioning
plan, radiological characterization of the site premises, dismantling
and removing of the reactor components and materials, decontamination,
final radiological site survey and obtaining the approval
for unrestricted use of the facility site.
PROJECT GOALS
-
Removal of all radioactive
and hazardous material associated with the reactor
facility
(removal of the irradiated fuel is covered by another project)
-
Decontamination of
the reactor facility to the level of unrestricted use
-
Elaboration of the
documentation for all project activities
The scope of the proposed
decommissioning project is based on the strategy of immediate
dismantling of the RA reactor facility. Final state of the decommissioning
should be unrestricted use of the facility site.
Duration of RA decommissioning
project is estimated to be 10 years. During the first few years
of realization mainly planning and preparation activities and
removal of non-radioactive materials and equipment will be done.
Dismantling of the reactor components and systems and removal
of radioactive materials will start after the spent fuel removal
from the reactor building. International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA) assistance is needed mainly during the first 5 years of
the project realization and it is expected as expert (good practice
from the similar projects, planning, managing, cost estimation)
and technical support (equipment purchase, techniques, fellowships,
trainings).
Personnel that will be
involved in the realization of project consist of approximately
20 experts and 30 technicians from Vinča Institute, several IAEA
experts and several ex-Vinča experts, specialists and co-operators.
MAIN PHASES IN THE
PROJECT REALIZATION
In order to achieve
defined goals, the project is divided into several parts:
-
Preparation of the
detailed decommissioning plan (strategy, safety and environmental
principles, inventory of radioactive and toxic materials,
waste management procedures, equipment and staff requirements,
cost estimate);
-
Radiological characterization
of components and materials, radiation levels and contamination
mapping inside the reactor facility;
-
Dismantling and removing
of reactor components and materials;
-
Decontamination of
surfaces inside the building, final radiological survey and
control of the building;
-
Obtaining the approval
for unrestricted use of facility site.
Many activities planned
by the project will be performed in conditions of high radiation
risks due to significant contamination of areas and components,
and high radiation levels in the vicinity of many reactor systems.
EXPECTED OUTPUT
The expected output
from the realization of this project:
-
Detailed decommissioning
plan for the RA reactor at the Vinča Institute;
-
Unrestricted use
of the reactor facility site;
-
Safely stored radioactive
waste material;
-
Further use of some
components and materials from the reactor facility;
-
Know-how in planning,
organization and implementation of decontamination, dismantling
and other decommissioning activities.
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