R2.04/03 - Preparation of decommissioning processes for NPP units regarding scientific, technical and economic issues (ref AP 7.1.2.4)

Decommissioning nuclear installations is a process directly linked to the safety of such installations and of areas around them. Strategy has to be selected according to country specificities; economic as well as sociological aspects have to be well anticipated; technological solutions have to be selected as well. All these efforts must be accompanied by a well defined regulatory environment that includes the definition of a strategy for resulting wastes management. Managers of decommissioning projects usually carefully consider accumulated or on-going experiences by sharing information about choices made by nuclear operators or/and nuclear regulatory bodies related to their decommissioning strategy.

Starting from this background it was the aim of the project to allow such an exchange of experience from Western nuclear utilities toward the Beneficiary so that the decommissioning processes of NPPs units in the Russian Federation can benefit of accumulated experience related to scientific, technical and economic issues.

The general objective of this project was to help the nuclear plant operator Rosenergoatom improving its capabilities in the specific field of plants decommissioning in order to show its ability to master the end of cycle of its assets.
The main purpose of the project is the transfer of experience and methodology in the field of nuclear power plants decommissioning. More specifically, issues relating to organisation, techniques, documentation and cost assessment were addressed in detail and in practice.

The five results achieved by the project are:
The transfer to the Beneficiary of up-to-date scientific, technical and organisational methodologies relating to decontamination and dismantling processes;
The transfer to the Beneficiary of up-to-date scientific, technical and organisational methodologies relating to radiation protection and to waste management;
The development of specific decommissioning and radiation surveillance documents dedicated to the reference NPP units;
The transfer to the Beneficiary of up-to-date methodologies relating to the economic evaluation of decommissioning and waste management;
The improvement of the structure and functioning of the knowledge system dedicated to decommissioning.
This was achieved through completion of the following tasks:
The full review of normative and legislative base for NPP decommissioning in the Russian Federation
The detailed review of the state of the art of decommissioning in the world, including legislative, technical and economic aspects
The review of the programme and technical documentation relating to the decommissioning of Novovoronezh 1 & 2
The collection and analysis of information necessary for the assessment of Novovoronezh 1 & 2 decommissioning cost
The estimation of Novovoronezh 1 & 2 decommissioning cost performed by Experts of EWN using their unique methodology and the information collected
The organisation of training sessions on various decommissioning related topics provided to Experts of Rosenergoatom and other scientific research institutes
The Project concluded with a workshop where a large number of stakeholders representing the European Commission, the Consortium, the Beneficiary and End Users discussed results and recommendations for future actions

Comments

The project has been very successful due to a deep involvement of all parties. It has been judged by the Beneficiary as one of the most successful TACIS projects. Indeed the consortium could provide a lot of technical relevant examples on several decommissioning sites. The situation in the Russian Federation could be analysed in an efficient manner through the involvement of the local sub-contractor as well as a very good collaboration with the pilot NPP.
Lessons learnt and recommendations have been issued and specifically discussed during the final workshop. Key recommendations are relating to:

The flexibility needed in the level of detail to be reached at licensing stage;
The need for clear and well-established organisation on sites hosting both operating and shutdown power units;
The importance of personnel training to new activities;
The importance of a comprehensive waste management strategy from the production of the waste to its final repository;
The need for a good inventory of technological objects to be dismantled;
The need for a sustainable technical memory.

Further Information

As Beneficiary, Rosenergoatom has expressed its full satisfaction with the project execution and achievements and its willingness to continue such cooperation.
A dedicated Website has been developed by VNIIAES to present the achievements of the project and, in the future, to host general information about decommissioning of nuclear power plants.