The Spanish Radioactive Waste Management and the associated research ensuring its development from sound technical and scientific basis

Abstract

ABSTRACTSpanish Radioactive Waste Management policy is established by the Government and implemented by ENRESA. The General Plan (GRWP) covers the analysis of the actual and foreseen inventories of spent fuel and all categories of radioactive waste, their present situation, the management strategy and actions identified, as well as funding and financial provisions. Very Low (VLLW) and Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) are disposed of at El Cabril facility, which has two separate disposal areas: one intended for VLLW, based on clay and polyethylene and started up in 2006; and one for LILW conditioned in retrievable concrete containers, commissioned in 1992. Spent fuel (SF) is being stored in pools and in two dry storage installations. The priority is the development of the SF and HLW centralized storage facility. In 2009, the Government launched a call for candidate municipalities, in a public, participative process. In September 2010 a report was sent to the Cabinet, proposing eight volunteer communities, four of them deemed preferred. In the 90’s a deep geological repository (DGR) site identification program was carried out. DGR basic designs and associated performance assessments were developed in three rock types. ENRESA has set a research program that includes research projects in order to strengthen the link between management and scientific basis and improve the performance assessment, directed to the behavior of barriers, fuel or waste forms in different storage and final disposal conditions, and characterization techniques. There is also a participation in connected fields or supporting decision-making, such as advanced separation and transmutation.