Regional Strategies Regional Strategies Concerning Nuclear Fuel Concerning Nuclear Fuel

Cycle and HLRW in Central Cycle and HLRW in Central and Eastern European and Eastern European

CountriesCountries

Z. HózerZ. Hózer ( (AEKI, AEKI, Hungary)Hungary), S. Borovitskiy, S. Borovitskiy ( (FCNRS, FCNRS, RussiaRussia)), ,

G. BudayG. Buday ( (PURAM, HungaryPURAM, Hungary)), B. Boullis, B. Boullis ( (CEA, FranceCEA, France)), , G. CognetG. Cognet ( (CEA, FranceCEA, France)), S. A. Delichatsios, S. A. Delichatsios ( (AREVA, AREVA,

FranceFrance)), , J. GadóJ. Gadó ( (AEKI, AEKI, Hungary)Hungary), A. Grishin, A. Grishin ( (FCNRS, RussiaFCNRS, Russia)), ,

Y. KaluznyY. Kaluzny ( (CEA, FranceCEA, France)), I. Leboucher, I. Leboucher ( (AREVA, FranceAREVA, France)), , B. NősB. Nős ( (PURAM, HungaryPURAM, Hungary)), D. Ochem, D. Ochem ( (CEA, FranceCEA, France)), , F. PazderaF. Pazdera ( (CEZ, Czech RepublicCEZ, Czech Republic)), A. Spitsin, A. Spitsin ( (FCNRS, FCNRS,

RussiaRussia))

History of Task ForceHistory of Task Force

In March 2009 a regional meeting on In March 2009 a regional meeting on national strategies concerning nuclear fuel national strategies concerning nuclear fuel cycle and high level radioactive waste cycle and high level radioactive waste (HLRW) was held in Budapest with the (HLRW) was held in Budapest with the participation of Czech Republic, Lithuania, participation of Czech Republic, Lithuania, Ukraina, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, Ukraina, Bulgaria, Romania, Slovenia, FranceFrance,, Russia and Hungary Russia and Hungary..

Task Force was set-up with fuel cycle Task Force was set-up with fuel cycle experts in order to analyse the possible experts in order to analyse the possible fuel cycle strategies in the region. fuel cycle strategies in the region.

Aims of Opinion PaperAims of Opinion Paper

to to give an overview give an overview of the present of the present nuclear fuel cycle nuclear fuel cycle possibilities possibilities

to to propose some propose some tracks towards a tracks towards a sustainable and sustainable and economically viable economically viable strategystrategy in the region in the region

Nuclear energy in the regionNuclear energy in the region

8 8 out ofout of 21 countries operate Nuclear 21 countries operate Nuclear Power Plants, but they presents 54% Power Plants, but they presents 54% population and 58% of electricity population and 58% of electricity production. production.

tthe 187 TWh produced in their NPPs, he 187 TWh produced in their NPPs, share by 40% on their electricity share by 40% on their electricity production production

several new nuclear units will be built several new nuclear units will be built in the next decadesin the next decades

Specific features of the Specific features of the regionregion

ppresently, countries of the region are resently, countries of the region are mostly using Russian fuel in their mostly using Russian fuel in their NPPsNPPs

tthere is no spent fuel reprocessing here is no spent fuel reprocessing facility in the regionfacility in the region

ffor electricity production, the main or electricity production, the main technologies of this century will be technologies of this century will be Generation-3 Light Water Reactors Generation-3 Light Water Reactors (LWR) with time life extension of (LWR) with time life extension of existing Generation-2 LWRsexisting Generation-2 LWRs

Fuel back end policyFuel back end policy

As regards radioactive wastes, As regards radioactive wastes, particularly high level wastes and spent particularly high level wastes and spent fuel, most of the countries have long fuel, most of the countries have long term policies. term policies.

The establishment of new nuclear units The establishment of new nuclear units and the nuclear technology and the nuclear technology developments offer new perspectives, developments offer new perspectives, which may need reconsideration of fuel which may need reconsideration of fuel cycle policies and to open more active cycle policies and to open more active regional and Pan-European co-operation. regional and Pan-European co-operation.

Fuel back end technologiesFuel back end technologies

Existing technologies

Future technologies

Interim storage

Transportation of spent fuel

Reprocessing of LWR spent fuel

Advanced reprocessing

for FBRs

Geological repository

Interim StorageInterim Storage

Mature technology for Mature technology for spent fuel and vitrified spent fuel and vitrified wasteswastes

Designed for 30-50 years, Designed for 30-50 years, extension to 100-150 extension to 100-150 yearsyears

Interim storage facilites at Paks and Dukovany NPPs

Transportation of spent fuelTransportation of spent fuel

all possible obstacles (political, legal, all possible obstacles (political, legal, organizational, etc.) organizational, etc.) must bemust be overcome and the whole process overcome and the whole process must be must be agreed, including the final agreed, including the final solution in case of transport to solution in case of transport to another countryanother country

Transportation of spent fuel from Budapest Research Reactor to Russia

Reprocessing of LWR spent Reprocessing of LWR spent fuelfuel

specific chemical treatment of specific chemical treatment of spent fuelspent fuel in order to separate components which in order to separate components which might be further utilized (U and Pumight be further utilized (U and Pu))

manufacturmanufacturinging MOX (Mixed Oxide Fuel) MOX (Mixed Oxide Fuel) and reprocessed uraniumand reprocessed uranium

rresidual materials esidual materials inin vitrified vitrified form form, , capsulated for interim storage and final capsulated for interim storage and final disposal disposal

MOX recycling in LWRs will reduce MOX recycling in LWRs will reduce – the natural uranium requirements and the natural uranium requirements and – the amount of high level wastethe amount of high level waste

Advanced reprocessing for Advanced reprocessing for FBRsFBRs

based on partitioning and transmutation of based on partitioning and transmutation of spent fuelspent fuel

iintegral recycling of actinides should result ntegral recycling of actinides should result in ultimate wastes whose potential in ultimate wastes whose potential radiotoxicity decays to that of the uranium radiotoxicity decays to that of the uranium ore (from which the initial fuel was ore (from which the initial fuel was manufactured) in about three centuries, manufactured) in about three centuries, compared to 100 000 years of a direct compared to 100 000 years of a direct disposal of disposal of spent fuelspent fuel

this process needs, for transmutation, this process needs, for transmutation, GenerationGeneration-4-4 systems systems (FBRs) (FBRs) which will be which will be not deployed at industrial level before 2050not deployed at industrial level before 2050

Geological repositoryGeological repository Deep geological repositories (several hundreds of Deep geological repositories (several hundreds of

meters below the surface) are the only realistic meters below the surface) are the only realistic option for isolating the highly radioactive option for isolating the highly radioactive materials from the biosphere for very long time. materials from the biosphere for very long time.

One of the main issues about geological One of the main issues about geological repository is the content and conditioning of repository is the content and conditioning of wastes which will be disposed. wastes which will be disposed.

NNo deep geological repository o deep geological repository for spent fuel from for spent fuel from NPPs NPPs is in operation in any countryis in operation in any country today. today.

In the USA, tIn the USA, the Obama administration has he Obama administration has recently cut most of the Yucca Mountain recently cut most of the Yucca Mountain geological repository geological repository project’s 2010 funding and project’s 2010 funding and asked an expert commission to make asked an expert commission to make recommendations for developing a new plan for recommendations for developing a new plan for the back-end of the fuel cycle.the back-end of the fuel cycle.

Fuel cycle strategiesFuel cycle strategies

Open fuel cycle

Conventional closed

fuel cycle

Advanced closed

fuel cycle

Postponed startegy

Return startegy

Open fuel cycleOpen fuel cycle

direct disposal of spent fuel after direct disposal of spent fuel after temporary storage temporary storage

underground system of tunnels + underground system of tunnels + special containers – technology exists special containers – technology exists todaytoday

most, but not all of the NPP operating most, but not all of the NPP operating countries have potential geological countries have potential geological formationsformations

the fissile materials remains in the the fissile materials remains in the waste, which has high radiotoxicitywaste, which has high radiotoxicity

Conventional closed fuel Conventional closed fuel cyclecycle

a vitrified matrix for high level waste a vitrified matrix for high level waste which is no more comparable to which is no more comparable to containers of containers of spent fuelspent fuel (as in direct (as in direct disposal) regarding disposal) regarding long-term safety long-term safety

less amount of some Pu isotopes, which less amount of some Pu isotopes, which shall be disposed of after reprocessingshall be disposed of after reprocessing

a lower volume due to the lower heat a lower volume due to the lower heat content and the compaction resulting content and the compaction resulting from vitrificationfrom vitrification

France and Russia offer reprocessing France and Russia offer reprocessing services for the countries of the regionservices for the countries of the region

Universal container for vitrified waste from reprocessing

Advanced closed fuel cycleAdvanced closed fuel cycle

similar to the conventional closed fuel similar to the conventional closed fuel cycle, but uranium utilization is optimized cycle, but uranium utilization is optimized and ultimate wastes are composed only and ultimate wastes are composed only of fission products whose volume and of fission products whose volume and radiotoxicity are strongly reducedradiotoxicity are strongly reduced

ultimate wastes are vitrified and ultimate wastes are vitrified and conditioned in a specific canister to be conditioned in a specific canister to be disposed into deep geological disposed into deep geological repositoriesrepositories

nno spent fuel remains for disposalo spent fuel remains for disposal

Other strategiesOther strategies

Postponed strategy:Postponed strategy: extension of the extension of the use of interim storage for several use of interim storage for several decades in order to wait for decades in order to wait for demonstration of one or more of the demonstration of one or more of the above mentioned three strategies above mentioned three strategies before final decisionbefore final decision

Return strategy:Return strategy: some countries may some countries may also choose to return spent fuel to also choose to return spent fuel to the country of originthe country of origin

Selection of SF and HLRW Selection of SF and HLRW management strategy (1/2)management strategy (1/2)

CCosts and constraintsosts and constraints of the two main technical of the two main technical options. options. AA close cooperation of countries having the close cooperation of countries having the same nuclear history, similar fleets of reactors and same nuclear history, similar fleets of reactors and comparable political situation could favour its comparable political situation could favour its accomplishment and strengthen its conclusions.accomplishment and strengthen its conclusions.

AAdvantages and drawbacks of deep geological dvantages and drawbacks of deep geological disposaldisposal based on one country or a regional approach. based on one country or a regional approach. ItIt should not be limited to technical aspects but should should not be limited to technical aspects but should include political and social ones, include political and social ones, and and needs also a needs also a close cooperation between the countries which could close cooperation between the countries which could be involved in a common regional repository.be involved in a common regional repository.

The needs of the introduction of FBRThe needs of the introduction of FBR in the second in the second part of this century in connection with the issue of part of this century in connection with the issue of availability of uranium resources. availability of uranium resources. TThe introduction of he introduction of FBR cannot really be envisaged in a small reactor FBR cannot really be envisaged in a small reactor fleet, a regional approach should be promoted in fleet, a regional approach should be promoted in parallel with cooperation with countries having parallel with cooperation with countries having experience on that kind of reactors.experience on that kind of reactors.

Selection of SF and HLRW Selection of SF and HLRW management strategy (2/2)management strategy (2/2)

The social issue of very long-term waste The social issue of very long-term waste managementmanagement for which Generation-4 concepts for which Generation-4 concepts should offer new options by 2050. However, to be should offer new options by 2050. However, to be able to assess these new options, cooperation of able to assess these new options, cooperation of countries developing these concepts is absolutely countries developing these concepts is absolutely needed.needed.

The guarantee of available servicesThe guarantee of available services by industry by industry for both fuel supply and spent fuel management.for both fuel supply and spent fuel management.

The question of independenceThe question of independence which is related to which is related to the security of fuel supply and the strategy the security of fuel supply and the strategy chosen for SF, particularly if it is based on the chosen for SF, particularly if it is based on the return to the country of origin.return to the country of origin.

Safety, security and non-proliferationSafety, security and non-proliferation provisions provisions related to the specific fuel back-end strategies.related to the specific fuel back-end strategies.

Recommendations (1/3)Recommendations (1/3) Regional and Pan-European cooperation should be Regional and Pan-European cooperation should be

developed and strengthen in order to:developed and strengthen in order to:– help to make a consistent choice of a national HLRW and help to make a consistent choice of a national HLRW and

SF management strategy and demonstrate its viabilitySF management strategy and demonstrate its viability– guarantee long term fuel cycle services and enable their guarantee long term fuel cycle services and enable their

optimizationoptimization– enable a real development of deep geological repositories enable a real development of deep geological repositories

and reduce the cost of investment and operation per and reduce the cost of investment and operation per countrycountry

– have the critical size to develop Generationhave the critical size to develop Generation-4-4 reactors for reactors for long term sustainability of nuclear energylong term sustainability of nuclear energy

– be a credible partner for countries which are the leaders be a credible partner for countries which are the leaders in the development of FBRsin the development of FBRs

– allow the needed flexibility in fuel and Pu management allow the needed flexibility in fuel and Pu management particularly in case of implementation of FBRsparticularly in case of implementation of FBRs

Recommendations (2/3)Recommendations (2/3)

Harmonization of strategies and rules Harmonization of strategies and rules at a regional level should alsoat a regional level should also– create favourable economic conditions create favourable economic conditions

for discussions with investors and for discussions with investors and companies specialized in fuel servicescompanies specialized in fuel services

– help to convince population particularly help to convince population particularly if the selected strategy leads to a if the selected strategy leads to a sustainable nuclear energysustainable nuclear energy

Recommendations (3/3)Recommendations (3/3) ““Wait and see” strategy must be banished Wait and see” strategy must be banished

because it clearly transfers the because it clearly transfers the responsibility to future generationresponsibility to future generation

Optimum fuel back-end strategy should be Optimum fuel back-end strategy should be considered under existing environment and considered under existing environment and local conditions with potential modification local conditions with potential modification of existing onesof existing ones

Appropriate legal and regulatory Appropriate legal and regulatory international framework for the safety and international framework for the safety and security of fuel services and deep security of fuel services and deep geological repositories should be geological repositories should be considered at the regional level with considered at the regional level with respect to EURATOM and IAEA rulesrespect to EURATOM and IAEA rules

Thank you Thank you for attention!for attention!

(„pdf” copies of the Opinion Paper and its („pdf” copies of the Opinion Paper and its Technical Annex can be requested from Technical Annex can be requested from

hozer@aeki.kfki.hu)hozer@aeki.kfki.hu)