REACTOR DECOMMISSIONING STRATEGY: A NEW START FOR BNFL

摘要

The key points of BNFL Magnox Electric’s revised waste management and reactorrndecommissioning strategy for the reactor sites are:rn· Reactors will be defuelled as soon as practicable after shutdown.rn· Predominantly Caesium contaminated plant will be dismantled when it is no longerrnneeded.rn· Cobalt contaminated plant such as boilers will remain in position until the reactors arerndismantled, but appropriate decontamination technology will be regularly reviewed.rn· All buildings except the reactor buildings will be dismantled as soon as practicable afterrnthey are no longer needed.rn· Operational ILW, except some activated components, will be retrieved and packagedrnduring the Care and Maintenance preparation period. All wastes will be stored on site,rnand handled in the long term in accordance with Government policy.rn· Reactor buildings and their residual contents will be placed in a passive safe storage Carernand Maintenance condition in a manner appropriate for the site.rn· Contaminated land will be managed to maintain public safety.rn· The reactors will be finally dismantled in a sequenced programme with a start date andrnduration to be decided at the appropriate time in the light of circumstances prevalent atrnthat time.rn· Currently, the Company is considering a sequenced programme across all sites, notionallyrnbeginning around 100 years from station shutdown, leading to a range of deferral periods.rn· For provisioning purposes, the Company has costed a strategy involving reactorrndismantling deferrals ranging from 85 to about 105 years in order to demonstrate prudentrnprovisioning to meet its liabilities. A risk provision to reflect the potential for shorterrndeferral periods is included in the cost estimates.rn· The end point for reactor decommissioning is site clearance and delicensing, based on thernassumption that a reasonably practicable interpretation of the “no danger” clause in thernNuclear Installatio ns Act 1965 (as amended) can be developed.rnIn line with Government policy, and taking account of all relevant factors, this strategy will bernsubject to ongoing review and development and may be modified in the light of changedrncircumstances in the future.