Abstract
AbstractIn Lithuania all the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) came from operation of the Ignalina nuclear power plant with two reactors of RBMK type (RBMK is a Russian acronym for 'Channelized Large Power Reactor' which is a water-cooled graphite-moderated reactor: RBMK-1500). Approximately 22,000 SNF assemblies are due for geological disposal in Lithuania. Currently it is envisaged that SNF will be stored in dry interim storage facilities (new and existing) for at least 50 y prior to possible deep geological disposal.The decision on the final SNF management option (disposal in a national repository, disposal in regional repositories, etc.) has not yet been made but some investigations of the possibilities to dispose of the SNF in Lithuania have been initiated. With the support of Swedish experts, analysis of possible geological formations for SNF disposal was performed and the existence of potentially suitable formations agreed. The geological formations prioritized as prospective include the crystalline rocks in southern Lithuania and two clayey formations: the Lower Triassic clay formation and the Lower Cambrian Baltic Group clay formation, with priority given to the Lower Triassic clay formation.This paper presents the main aspects of the research and other activities undertaken over the past decade in the field of SNF disposal: international cooperation; current status and plans for the Lithuanian national program; further investigations required; and competence developments.
Highlights
THERE is only one nuclear power plant (NPP) in Lithuania – the Ignalina nuclear power plant
This paper presents the main aspects of the research and other activities undertaken over the past decade in the field of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) disposal: international cooperation; current status and plans for the Lithuanian national program; further investigations required; and competence developments
The results showed that, depending on the differences in the initial defect size, defect enlargement time and release start time, the peak flux from the engineered barrier system (EBS) may vary by a factor of 2 and 1.5 for RBMK-1500 SNF (Poskas et al, 2013)
Summary
THERE is only one nuclear power plant (NPP) in Lithuania – the Ignalina nuclear power plant. It was decided to store these assemblies at an interim dry type of storage facility at the Ignalina NPP site for at least 50 years, prior to disposal. The remaining SNF is still stored in water pools at the Ignalina NPP and will be transferred to a new SNF dry storage facility. According to the European Commission Directive on radioactive waste and spent fuel management (European Commission, 2011), storage of radioactive waste, including long-term storage, is an interim solution, but not an alternative to disposal. To this end, Member States are obliged to establish and implement national programs for management of spent fuel and/or radioactive waste from generation to disposal. The decision on the final option for Lithuanian SNF management has not been made, but investigations of some possibilities have been initiated
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