The installation of the overhead crane has begun, with which the personnel of the National Disposal Facility of Radioactive Waste (NDF) will carry out the operations of receiving and handling the reinforced concrete containers (RCC) with RAW in the facility for receipt and buffering RAW packages
The buffer storage is an essential element of the entire NDF complex. It will carry out incoming inspections and inspections of incoming RAW to determine their compliance with the criteria for acceptance into disposal cells. The storage area will accommodate up to 120 RCC. The buffer storage of RSS enables the most optimal subsequent disposal of RAW in the disposal cells depending on the mass of the containers and their radionuclide composition. Depending on these characteristics, as well as depending on the characteristics of the RAW already located in the disposal cells and of the RAW planned for acceptance, two options are formed:
- RCC to be sent for disposal in the disposal cell, which is currently being filled;
- RCC to be located in the area for temporary storage pending, in accordance with the technological order, their subsequent departure to the disposal area.
The loading and unloading operations and the moving of the RCC into the interior of the building will be carried out remotely using the overhead crane and will be managed through the SCADA management and control system. In this way, SE RAW protects its own personnel, minimizing dose rates in accordance with the ALARA* principle.
After the installation of the overhead crane is completed, the installation of the metal roof structure will continue and the reinforced concrete roof slab will be constructed.
*ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) – one of the main criteria formulated as early as 1954 by the International Commission on Radiation Protection in order to minimize the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. It envisages maintaining the lowest possible achievable level of both individual (lower than the limit established by the current norms) and collective radiation doses, taking into account social and economic factors.
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The National Disposal Facility is a facility with a multi-barrier defence for permanent storage of radioactive waste, brought into a safe condition in advance and conditioned in reinforced concrete containers (RCC). The facility will be a near-surface trench type with a capacity of 19 thousand RCC. One of the most modern surface trench-type facilities in Europe is designed for processed and secured radioactive waste generated only on the territory of Bulgaria. It will store low- and medium-level radioactive waste from the industry, medicine and household; waste generated during the decommissioning of Units I-IV of the Kozloduy NPP, as well as from the operation of future new nuclear facilities. High-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel will not be stored in NDF.
The construction of the National Disposal Facility is set out in the updated National Strategy for Management of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste by 2030 and is a commitment of the Bulgarian Government to the European Commission. The project is funded through a Grant Agreement by the Kozloduy International Decommissioning Support Fund, administered by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the value of project’s first phase is EUR 71 820 000.
