Waste Technology Section
Geological Waste Disposal
Ongoing Activities in Geological Disposal
The current activities in the area of geological disposal of radioactive waste are addressing scientific, technical, institutional and socio-political issues in support of confidence building for the geological disposal concept and its implementation, which include the following topics:
- Design and planning of geological repositories: Building and operating a geological repository for high level and long lived radioactive waste, including closure of all underground excavations, require considerable technical and scientific information to be used in every aspect of the conceptual approach, design, engineering and safety assessment of such a facility. In this respect a technical report is under preparation to provide Member States with practical and updated information on the way a geological repository programme has to be defined, designed and planned, with special attention to all aspects having an impact on the timing, including the assessment of safety. Both positive and negative experiences associated to the development of repositories may provide the necessary guidance to interested countries on how to outline, implement or improve their national approaches. (2006-2009).
- Application of numerical modelling to geological disposal programmes: Member States develop different modelling approaches regarding site characterization and performance assessment. Modelling tools are a prerequisite to integrate existing experimental data and to support/guide the development of new activities and to make predictions for long-term behaviour. Integration and interpretation of data as well as modelling approaches have to be tailored to repository concepts and for geologic conditions prevailing in participating Member States. In the framework of a Coordinated Research Programme (CRP) some commonly used models for simulations/predictions in this field will be screened and assessed in the frame of common cases. (2006-2010) .
- International cooperation in shared disposal facilities: An international Expert Group on Multilateral Approaches (MNA) was established by the Director General IAEA in 2004 to advise the Agency on how multinational initiatives could enhance global security and strengthen non-proliferation regime. Based on past IAEA studies,one of the conclusion of the group was that the final disposal of spent fuel is a candidate for multilateral approaches, offerring major economic and non-proliferation benefits, although it presents legal, political and public acceptance challenges in many countries. The WTS will continue its efforts in that direction by considering further the viability of sharing disposal facilities (2007-2010).
- Training in and development of waste disposal technologies: With the contributions of organisations from several Member States with well developed programmes for the disposal of high level and long lived waste, the ´Network of Centres of Excellenceˇ for training in and development of waste disposal technologies was established. Since 2001, this Network has organised and provided training courses, scientific visits and fellowships to participants from more that 20 Member States. In this respect, whenever possible, appropriate linkages between the Network and the Agency˙s CRPs or Technical Cooperation Programmes are established to optimize resouces. For more details, see the URF Network web site.
- Disposal of long lived waste: Disposal of non-heat producing long lived waste is becoming a topical issue as both during operation and decommissioning of nuclear facilities such waste streams appear. This problem is addressed in a TECDOC prepared for publication in 2008. It will provide an overview of relevant waste categories and facilities, which may be considered for their disposal, as well as selection factors and procedures to be considered when choosing the most appropriate approach (2002-2007).