RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDONESIA a progress report

Transcription

1 RADIOACTIVE WASTE MANAGEMENT IN INDONESIA a progress report Asmedi Suripto Radioactive Waste Management Development Center National Nuclear Energy Agency (BATAN) Kawasan PUSPIPTEK, Serpong 15310, Indonesia 1

2 Contents Introduction Recent Development Institutional Legal Infrastructure Major Recent Technical s Pre-Disposal Disposal Decommissioning Waste Activity on NORM-TENORM Facility Improvement Waste Security Country Specific Need Possible Implication for Agency INTRODUCTION Safe handling of radioactive waste is an important issue The current main sources of radioactive waste in Indonesia are: (1) hospitals, (2) industry, (3) public (i.e. lightening arresters, smoke detectors), (4) research activities, (5) spent reactor fuel BATAN through the Radwaste Center is responsible to manage all radwaste arising in the territory of the Republic of Indonesia The Radwaste Center as research center also performs R&D on radwaste management technology Nuclear Energy Control Board is responsible in performing regulatory, inspectory and licensing functions independently, hence regulates and inspects all nuclear activities Activities on NPP preparation to include the Radwaste Center to perform 3 tasks: design of NPP operational waste treatment, spent fuel management, and waste disposal 2

3 Radwaste Treatment Plant The Radwaste Center manages the radwaste treatment plant consisting of: Evaporator unit Cementation unit Chemical treatment unit Compactor unit Radium conditioning facility Incinerator unit Decontamination facility Interim storage for low and medium active wastes Interim storage for high active wastes Waste transporter Recent Development Institutional Quite recently Government issued firmed official statement on nuclear electricity generation and Parliament stated its support to NPP program. This political gain intensifies NPP preparation activities, including radwaste management sector which covers (1) study on NPP operational waste processing (2) study on integrated spent NPP fuel management (3) Preliminary study on waste disposal 3

4 Recent Development Legal In general there is no new regulation on waste management issued The Nuclear Energy Control Board is concentrating in the preparation of regulation package for NPP construction and operation, in which provisions for related radwaste will be setforth The regulation for NORM/TENORM is being prepared by the Nuclear Energy Control Board involving other parties such as BATAN, Dept of Public Health etc. Socialization of the Joint Convention carried out by an Agency Expert is expected to expedite the ratification of the Convention by Government Recent Development Infrastructure A new organizational structure of BATAN will soon emerge which will fit better the current challenges and programs In the new organization, the Radwaste Center task is broadened to include spent reactor fuel management with the implication of the implementation of safeguards principles on nuclear material being managed As security measure on radioactive materials is adopted, the Radwaste Center also is equipped with special guard force 4

5 Major Recent Technical Pre-disposal A successful withdrawal of disused sources from hospitals (including Ra needles, a continuation of work from previous years. All activities in this regard are based on a contractual agreement between BATAN and the Dept of Public Health Removal of disused radiation sources from industry has run as usual. A major undertaking by end of 2004 was to remove a quite big cobalt-60 source from a private irradiation company Major Recent Technical Disposal There has been no waste disposal activity BATAN performs limited R&D and site investigation, disposal safety assessment, and disposal related technology study. Major site activity toward waste disposal is pended the success of NPP siting. Preliminary in-house research has identified potential sites, set up standards and criteria for disposal, gathered lab data of migration of radionuclide in natural barriers and migration under the influence of humic acid The identified sites include the area adjacent to NPP candidate sites, some islands offsore of the NPP canditate site Research activity also introduces the concept of NSD (near surface disposal) for low and intermediate wastes 5

6 Major Recent Technical Decommissioning There has been bulk waste from up rating of TRIGA Mark II reactor in Bandung (graphite reflector etc) still being stored underwater. Further treatment is supended pending technical assistance and financial arrangement The Radwaste Center will perform decommissioning of the uranium concentration plant at the Phosphate Fertilizer Plant in East Java which is expected to generate decommissioning waste. The project is slightly postponed due to request for cost re-calculation Meanwhile all residual yellowcake has been removed to The Radwaste Center and remains not considered as waste but nuclear material Decommissioning study has to be performed to any reactor and nuclear facility, irrespective of it being ageing or still in good condition. This new regulation is applied to application for operating license renewal Indonesia enjoys a helpful assistance from FNCA (Forum on Nuclear Cooperation in Asia) in all waste management aspects including decommissioning, in the form of exchange of information, experience, technical seminars, training, visits etc. Major Recent Technical Activities on NORM-TENORM Radiological mapping to indicate TENORM existence and survey of its possible impact on public health has been started in some areas BATAN also has started performing limited public education and information on NORM-TENORM issue to build up public awareness by means of seminars, popular presentation etc. Limitation of activity is due to shortage of budget and access permit from industry. In this regard, again FNCA provides a good assistance in forms of training, seminars, scientific visits to areas dealing with NORM/TENORM management in neighboring countries, etc. 6

7 Major Recent Technical Improvement of existing facility Demand on radwaste processing and storage ever increases and kinds of waste also produced. BATAN commits itself that by end of 2007 it will accept all kinds and amount of radioactive waste to be processed and managed by the Radwaste Center and therefore existing facility improvement is very necessary; this being enveloped in the so-called Landmark Program The program takes the forms of replacing old devices, putting R&D resulted process into line, modernization of waste management procedures, addition of interim storage space, etc. Major Recent Technical Security Measure The project to improve security measure has been completed by end of In this regard BATAN does enjoy the voluntary assistance from the US DOE The security system was conceptually and physically designed, installed and commissioned by BATAN personnel under the guidance of US DOE experts and fully financed by US DOE Based on the new organizational concept, the Center will be provided with guard forces to enforce security measure to radioactive materials being managed and as well as part of the physical protection to be implemented as the Center will soon manage spent fuel. 7

8 Country Specific Needs Improvement of competence and capability of the Radwaste Center does in fact require assistance: In the form of training of personnel directly involved in the handling of bulk decommissioning waste from up rating of Bandung reactor and scientific visits to see similar activity for management personnel To perform conceptual and basic design of a centralized NPP spent fuel interim storage To perform decommissioning program for existing research reactors for obtaining operation license renewal from authority To perform preliminary NPP decommissioning program as part of BIS (bid information specification) to be issued prior to tender To set up most appropriate, efficient and effective steps in decommissioning the uranium plant Building infrastructure in the form NORM-TENORM regulation (expecially defining the clearance, exemption, exclusion levels) Possible Implication for Agency Knowing the growing activities which basically need improvement of personnel s competence and capability, and to some extent also hardware, the Agency is strongly requested to provide assistance. It is proposed that the Agency use the existing assistanship instrument such as INT or else Kinds of assistance: Appropriate trainings Scientific visits to areas having similar, on-going activity In limited extend, aid in the form of hardware is indeed needed to solve some problems. 8

9 THANK YOU 9