Chernobyl Waste Integration Project

Radioactive waste arises from a number of sources within the ChNPP as well as within the exclusion zone around ChNPP. In the first period after Chernobyl disaster, the management of radioactive waste has not been the first priority task and therefore most of radioactive waste management activities have not followed the national as well as international rules. One of the main problems has been the lack of integrated approach, caused, besides others, by non-availability of sufficient storage and/or disposal capacities for radioactive waste.

The contractor integrated and further developed within this project the results of several former TACIS projects aimed at the solution of the partial waste management problems. Using inputs from the previous projects, implemented by various European organisations, this project provided a proposal of an integrated solution, covering in various levels all kinds of radioactive waste as well as spent fuel at ChNPP.

Radioactive waste information collection, analytical and evaluation works, feasibility study, conceptual work on integrated concept of radioactive waste management at ChNPP till preparation of equipment identification sheets – all these issues were covered by this project. The results can be considered as a solid basis for future planning and implementation activities in management of operational as well as decommissioning radioactive waste.

The overall objective of this project was to contribute to improvement of management of radioactive waste at Chernobyl NPP.

The specific objective of the project was to propose safe and cost effective radioactive waste management concept for ChNPP, based on integrated approach to waste management and taking into account relevant Ukrainian legislation and waste management schemes proposed and/or implemented within the Chernobyl Exclusion zone.

Achievements (With reference to the TORs)
The project was implemented in five work packages:

• Collection and assessment of main contract conclusions;
• Rough estimation of waste parameters for Chernobyl centre;
• Criteria, specifications and preparation for licensing;
• Concept for integral waste management facility, and
• Preparation of equipment identification sheets.

As it is clear from the working title of this project - Chernobyl Waste Integration Project (CWIP), the key work package was concept for integral waste management facility. The concept was prepared for overall management of existing waste and of waste foreseen to be generated during future works like decommissioning of units 1, 2 and 3, maintenance of the Shelter and remediation of the waste dumps.
Three siteswere proposed within the exclusion zone for construction of the main components (facilities) of the waste management system. Selection of the sites provides for optimum arrangement of the facilities from the point of view of location of the waste, minimization of waste handling operations, optimization of storage requirements and, of course, cost efficiency of the construction and operation of the facilities.

Based on detailed analysis of waste arising, waste handling and management strategy was proposed, offering the technical solution for safe and sound management of each existing and expected kind of the waste. Final disposal of the processed waste, or storage as a deferred solution was proposed as the final step of the waste management cycle.

A database was created to increase the efficiency of using the data of waste arising and their parameters. All radioactive waste was categorised into 11 categories, consistent with proposed integrated waste management concept. Special problems had to be overcome, related to identification and characterization of the waste from waste dumps. The study of waste arising and their characteristic resulted in the dynamic database, allowing for preparation of the long term strategic vision as well as short term implementation plans.

The report for works on criteria, specification and preparation for licensing provided a framework of basic safety principles and limitation, relevant to design and operation of the facilities incorporated into the integrated concept of waste management.

As a follow up step a list of waste management facilities, equipment identification sheets and outline for their construction and operation were proposed and developed. Financial aspects and labour requirements were a consistent part of this task.
Implementation of the project represents a valuable summarization and analysis of the available information and integration step for several TACIS projects oriented to the waste management in Chernobyl exclusion zone.

Comments

(Quality of the results, Lesson learnt, Recommendations for follow-up)
The final report properly describes the process and achievements of the contractor. Results of the project are sufficiently demonstrated in narrative as well as drawing and table parts of the final report.
Results of the project are presented in clear and concise way and they were a valuable basis for further works. The project fully met the objectives stated in the relevant section of the ToR.

Further Information

Further information on the project results could be sought from the Final report (available in JRC Petten archive) and from beneficiary organizations.

The Project Final report is available at the JRC-IE archive.