Organizations dealing with radwaste issue

The project of the A-1 NPP decommissioning

   
A significant project „NPP A-1 decommissioning  — Phase I“ is now implemented at the nuclear power plant A-1 in Bohunice. This project is the most significant task in the field of decommissioning of nuclear power installations and management of radwaste in Slovakia. It is related to other various important projects such as the completion of the Bohunice Radwaste Treatment And Conditioning Center, operation of the Republic Radwaste Repository, and so on.    

  
The project was ordered by the utility Slovenské elektrárne, Inc. and the contractor is the Nuclear Power Plant Research Institute (VÚJE) Trnava, Inc. The project follows up previous long-term research activities in this field, and modern approaches to the resolution of the problems related to nuclear power plant decommissioning worldwide are applied in it. At the same time results will be implemented from previous research and development projects that were achieved since the A-1 plant shutdown.

   
The funding of the project „NPP A-1 decommissioning — Phase I“ is ensured from the State fund for decommissioning of nuclear facilities and management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste. This fund was created on January 1, 1995 and its main contributor is SE that contributes 10% from the price of electric energy from nuclear power plants.     

  
Phase one of the project was launched in 1999 and will last till 2005. The main objectives are as follows:

• verification of technology for treatment of selected types of liquid and solid radwaste,
• treatment of non-fixed radwaste into safe form,
• decontamination of the surface of technologic installations and civil construction structures of certain areas,
• disassembly of some equipment,
• development of proposals how to decommission certain equipment.

After the phase one subsequent phases will follow that provide a long-term protection storage of the plant with its subsequent disposal.

First Czechoslovak nuclear power plant A-1 Bohunice
The first Czechoslovak nuclear power plant A-1  is located on the Bohunice site, about 15 km from the regional center Trnava. The beginning of its construction is dated back to 1958 and the plant was in operation during the period 1972 to 1977. The objective was to verify the possibility to operate a nuclear reactor with natural uranium as fuel, heavy water as moderator and gas (CO2) as coolant at the A-1 plant. In the course of the A-1 operation, two accidents connected with refueling occurred. Following the second one a decision was taken (on February 22, 1977) not to continue in the A-1 operation. The decision taken was also related to the future orientation of our power sector on light water reactors of the VVER type.
The principle characteristics of the A-1 plant are as follows:

• single unit with KS-150 reactor with the capacity of 150 MW,
• total electric energy generated 1464 GWh,
• three turbines 3 x 50 MW; six steam generators.    

Notwithstanding the fact that the operation of the A-1 plant was relatively short and dramatic, it had a major benefit for the Czechoslovak nuclear industry. Thank to it, Czechoslovakia ranked into industrialized countries with developed nuclear power programs. A number of professionals for the research, design, construction and operation of nuclear power plants was brought up in the country. Nuclear power on the Bohunice site has continued by the construction and operation of the V-1 plant  and V-2 plant.       

   
Following the termination of the A-1 plant, it was necessary to resolve the task of its decommissioning the beginning of which is dated in 1979. A complex process associated not only with the disposal of its technology equipment, but also with radwaste management  and protection of the environment, has required special and highly qualified approaches. Safety requirements have been changing during these years and demands on research and development in this area were increasing. By January 1,1996 a new subsidiary VYZ of the SE utility was established (Decommissioning of nuclear power installations and management of radioactive waste and spent fuel) with its headquarter in Bohunice. This VYZ plant is also responsible for project development and execution of safe decommissioning of the A-1 plant.