Ukraine Cooperates with IAEA in Radwaste Geological Disposal
During the XVII IAEA annual technical meeting on the global progress in developing the decisions on deep geological disposal in New Delhi (India), the latest developments in this area were discussed with specialists from the countries participating in the URF Network (the Underground Research Facilities (URF) Network for Geological Disposal).
“URF Network allows the countries exchanging best practices in the development, assessment and implementation of the decisions on radioactive waste disposal in deep geological formations. All of them are based on an understanding of high level requirements for safety and management decisions and can be used in Ukraine to develop the concept of a deep geological repository”, the deputy head of the information, communications and public relations department at SE “Technical and Information Support Management Center of the Exclusion Zone” Anastasiya Nechytailo stated.
The Ukrainian party presented the national program for radioactive waste management during this event.
“Ukraine’s legislation in the sphere of geological disposal is sufficiently developed. There is a need at the legislative level for developing a geological repository. The early concept of geological disposal should be developed in order to proceed to practical steps”, Anastasiya Nechytailo said.
Experts from the participating countries noted Ukraine’s intention of further development of a geological disposal.
India, Canada, Japan, China, Korea, Switzerland, Germany, France, the Czech Republic and South Africa also presented their national programs in addition to Ukraine. Representatives of the countries discussed progress in the construction of geological repositories and exchanged experience in the construction and operation of underground research laboratories.
It was noted following the meeting that the IAEA and the participating countries would revise the following documents end of 2018: the roadmap for the construction of a geological repository, the determination of the cost and financing of a geological repository, and the guideline for siting. In addition, the Almanac for the construction of underground research laboratories should be developed end of 2019 that will collect the main actual theoretical and practical information on this topic in the countries with developed nuclear energy that construct geological repositories for radioactive waste disposal.
The next meeting will be conducted in China in September 2019.
The Press Service of the State Agency of Ukraine on Exclusion Zone management
