Contact Expert Group

The 12^th meeting of the Contact Expert Group (CEG) for international radwaste projects in the Russian Federation*/ took place on 14-16 May 2001 in St. Petersburg, Russian Federation. The meeting was attended by 58 participants from 10 countries and 5 international organizations.

The meeting considered three major topical issues, namely:

1. Discussion of the role and future activities of the CEG, including:

    

   • organization of the Project Working Groups' (PWG) activities
     
   • preparation of new Terms of Reference of the CEG
     
     

    

2. Project proposals of the Russian side for PWG initiation.

    

3. CEG organizational and financial matters.

In addition the following presentations have been made and received with interest:

1. Status of activities on SNF and Radwaste management at the North-West and the Far East of Russia by Mr. Victor Akhunov, RF Minatom

    

2. Status of MNEPR Agreement negotiations: problems and perspectives by the CEG Chairman

    

3. Information on main conditions of proposed changes of the Russian Law related to importation of SNF, and status of their acceptance by Mr. Valery Lebedev, CEG member for RF

    

4. Information on finalization of R5 report of the SWG by Mr. Jurgen Krone, DBE Technology, Germany

    

5. Status of the Russian State Nuclear Liability System by Ms. Nina Yanovskaya, ICC "Nuclide", RF Minatom

    

6. How to reach success in implementation of international projects: main problems and results of implemented international projects at the North-West of the Russian Federation by Ms. Nina Yanovskaya, ICC "Nuclide", RF Minatom

    

7. Seminar on regional storage for reactor compartments by Ms. Eleonora Barnes / Mr. Randall Snipes, USEPA

    

8. Main results of TACIS project R4.11/95 "Improvement of the safety of the management of radioactive waste in the north west region of Russia / Interim storage" by Mr. Michel Detilleux, Tractebel, Belgium

    

9. Information of the status of the cooperation project "Feasibility investigation into a nuclear repository on Novaya Zemlya" by Mr. Jurgen Krone, DBE Technology, Germany

Discussion of the role and future activities of the CEG

The CEG Chairman presented overview of the outcomes of the Ad Hoc CEG meeting on organization of Project Working Groups (PWG) organized at IAEA Headquarters on 25-27 April 2001.

Mr. R.Scott, CEG member for USA presented CEG project development process, criteria for project selection and main steps in defining and describing the project.

The CEG acknowledged the presentation and the discussion that followed. It was agreed that the PWGs should focus on the initial stages of the project (e.g. feasibility stage). They might contribute to further project implementation as well. However, when donors for the project implementation are found, they will proceed with implementation stage, establishing steering committees and other means for management and control of the project. Project implementation stage is the responsibility of the donors.

Further discussion of the PWG concept took place at a special working group. A general diagram of the Project Development Process (PDP) was worked-out and presented for the CEG plenary session.

The CEG accepted the proposed process and asked the US side to prepare a written description of the PDP and distribute it to the CEG members for consideration by June 8, 2001.

Presentation of a draft updated Terms of Reference (ToR) of the CEG was made by Mr. H.Rotler, CEG member for Norway. Detailed discussion of the draft took place at a special working group and a number of comments were provided by the parties.

As a result of the discussion and its presentation to the plenary the CEG decided that Norwegian side will incorporate the comments and prepare next draft of the CEG ToR for further finalization in communication with the CEG members and the IAEA so that the updated document is to be presented at the next CEG meeting for approval.

The Executive Secretary presented the main areas of co-operation with the IAEA.

The CEG acknowledged the presentation and noted that there is substantial room for expansion of cooperation with IAEA, and the CEG Executive Secretary has to explore these possibilities within the IAEA. Norwegian side and the CEG Chairman will initiate dialogue on preparation of updated CEG ToR and on cooperation with the Agency approaching responsible officers of the Agency.

Project proposals of the Russian side for PWG initiation

Mr. V.Akhunov, Minatom RF presented project proposals on construction of interim SNF cask storage at the Mayak plant. This project is recognized as a first priority of the Russian side in solving the most urgent task - defuelling of the laid-off submarines.

The CEG received the presentation with interest and as a result of the subsequent discussion the following decision was made:

The CEG recognizes the project on construction of the SNF interim storage facility at the Mayak plant to be of primary importance and fully endorses its further development and implementation. Potential donors for the project will be contacted, and the follow-up decisions on further development and finance of the project are to be made by the donors in communication with the Russian side.

Mr. V.Akhunov, Minatom RF presented project proposals on construction of long term storage for reactor compartments at Sayda bay. This project is the second high priority project for the Russian Federation in implementation of the nuclear submarine decommissioning program. It is supported by the Murmansk region administration and by the Federal administration as well.

The CEG accepted the presentation and the following discussion. The CEG recognizes this project as an important, but rather expensive one, and further evaluation of this proposal is required. The Russian side mentioned that additional information could be provided in accordance with specific requests of the CEG parties.

A round table discussion on main achievements and problems in implementation of co-operative projects took place, and useful information on the subject in question was presented by the meeting participants.

The CEG's organizational and financial matters

The CEG highly appreciating importance of the CEG activities and anticipating further practical initiatives and achievements, decided:

• to continue the CEG's and its Secretariat's activities for another two years under the same organizational and financial conditions,
  
  
• and to ask the IAEA Director General to continue the IAEA support of the CEG activities in 2002-2003 under the same organizational and financial conditions and accordingly to extend the CEG Executive Secretary's contract.

The CEG:

• noted with delight nomination of:
  
  

  - Mr. Simon Mustard as a CEG member for United Kingdom

  - Mr. Harald van Rees Rotler as a CEG member for Norway

  - Mr. Peter von Dobschutz as a CEG member for Germany

  
  
• noted the Financial Report of the CEG Secretariat for 2000 and approved it
  
  
• recognised and thanked Belgian side for financial contribution for organization of the 12th CEG meeting
  
  
• accepted kind invitation of Sweden to held the 13th CEG meeting on 6-8 November 2001 in Oskarshamn