[EN08] Nuclear waste production
Key message
In the 1990-2011 period, the quantity of spent nuclear fuel, which is the only type of high-level waste in Slovenia, increased by 6 % annually. As there is still no satisfactory method of waste storage, the accumulation of this waste poses a reason for concern. At the end of 2009, the location for the low and intermediate level radioactive waste repository in Vrbina pri Krškem was finally confirmed.
Definition
This indicator monitors the quantity of spent nuclear fuel, which provides a good estimate of the situation in the field of radioactive waste. Furthermore, it contains a projection of the production of electricity from nuclear power, as it is a rough indication of the quantity of spent nuclear fuel in the future. It also monitors the volume of intermediate and low-level waste.
The measurement unit for the quantity of spent nuclear fuel is tHM (tonnes of heavy metal). Nuclear electricity generation is calculated in terawatt hours (TWh). Low and intermediate-level waste is stated in the number of drums or other units or in terms of volume (m3).
Nuclear waste is classified as follows:
• High-level waste (HLW) – highly radioactive, generates a considerable amount of heat and long-lived radioactivity;
• Intermediate-level waste (ILW) – higher amounts of radioactivity; further classified into beta-gamma emitters (low and intermediate-level of radiotoxicity, negligible heat) and alpha emitters (intermediate-level of radiotoxicity, low heat);
• Low-level waste (LLW) – small to negligible amounts of radioactivity and, as is the case with intermediate-level waste, classified into beta-gamma emitters and alpha emitters (Agency for Radwaste Management, 2007).
Charts
Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration, 2011: Razširjeno poročilo o varstvu pred ionizirajočimi sevanji in jedrski varnosti v Republiki Sloveniji leta 2011, page 186
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of spent nuclear fuel per year | tHM | 16.3 | 0 | 15 | 16.3 | 0 | 12.3 | 9.5 | 9.5 | 10.9 | 10.9 |
| Quantity of spent nuclear fuel in the storage pool | tHM | 106.9 | 106.9 | 121.9 | 138.3 | 138.3 | 150.5 | 160.1 | 169.6 | 180.5 | 191.4 |
| Storage pool capacity | tHM | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 | 282 |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||
| Quantity of spent nuclear fuel per year | tHM | 10.9 | 12.3 | 11.2 | 15 | 19.1 | 0 | 19.1 | 18.1 | 0 | 19.1 |
| Quantity of spent nuclear fuel in the storage pool | tHM | 202.3 | 214.6 | 225.8 | 240.8 | 259.9 | 259.9 | 278.9 | 297 | 297 | 316 |
| Storage pool capacity | tHM | 282 | 282 | 282 | 576.9 | 576.9 | 576.9 | 576.9 | 576.9 | 576.9 | 576.9 |
| 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||
| Quantity of spent nuclear fuel per year | tHM | 19.1 | 0 | ||||||||
| Quantity of spent nuclear fuel in the storage pool | tHM | 335.1 | 335.1 | ||||||||
| Storage pool capacity | tHM | 576.9 | 576.9 |
Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration, 2012.
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity of low and medium radioactive waste | m3 | 1706 | 1783 | 1914 | 2019 | 2078 | 1872 | 1971 | 2042 | 2074 | 2086 |
| 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | ||
| Quantity of low and medium radioactive waste | m3 | 2154 | 2203 | 2208 | 2253 | 2289 | 2256 | 2258 | 2174 | 2189 | 2209 |
| 2010 | 2011 | ||||||||||
| Quantity of low and medium radioactive waste | m3 | 2211 | 2234.1 |
Goals
- to ensure safe management of all nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel in all phases of their existence;
- to provide permanent solutions for waste management (construction of the low and intermediate level radioactive waste repository, providing a long-term solution for depositing spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste).
Methodology
Data for Slovenia
Objectives summarised by: Resolucija o Nacionalnem programu ravnanja z radioaktivnimi odpadki in izrabljenim jedrskim gorivom za obdobje 2006-2015 (Resolution on the 2006-2015 National Programme for Managing Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel, Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, No. 15/06)
Source database or source: Data on spent nuclear fuel and the quantity of intermediate and low-level waste (Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration – Annual Report) and Quantity of low and intermediate level waste at the repository of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (Agency for Radwaste Management – Annual Report).
Data administrator: Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (Marko Giacomelli) and Agency for Radwaste Management.
Date of acquisition for this indicator: 15 November 2012
Methodology and frequency of data collection for the indicator: Data are prepared on an annual basis.
Data processing methodology: Average annual growth is calculated using the following formula: [(last year)/(first year)]^(1 / the number of years) – 1] x 100.
Information concerning data quality:
- Advantages and disadvantages of the indicator: Data on spent nuclear fuel are reported by the Krško Nuclear Power Plant and the Jožef Stefan Institute and are of a high quality. Data on the volume of low and intermediate-level waste are of a lesser quality, as they encompass different shapes of waste.
- Relevance, accuracy, robustness, uncertainty:
Reliability of the indicator (archival data): The indicator is reliable.
Uncertainty of the indicator (scenarios/projections): Scenarios and projections are not available.
- Overall assessment (1 = no major comments, 3 = data to be considered with reservation):
Relevance: 1
Accuracy: 1
Completeness over time: 1
Completeness over space: 1
Other sources and literature:
- Agency for Radwaste Management, 2005. Strokovne podlage nacionalnega programa ravnanja z RAO in IJG (Expert Background for the National Programme for Managing Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel).
- Agency for Radwaste Management, 2009.Annual Report 2008.
- Agency for Radwaste Management, 2011. Annual Report 2009 and 2010.
- Ministry of the Economy, 2009. Zelena knjiga za Nacionalni energetski program Slovenije (Green Paper for the National Energy Programme).
- Krško Nuclear Power Plant, 2012. Annual Report 2011.
- Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration, 2012. Annual Report 2011 on the Radiation and Nuclear Safety in the Republic of Slovenia.