Experts from the National Atomic Energy Agency (PAA) and the Radioactive Waste Management Plant (ZUOP) of Poland found the experience of State Enterprise Radioactive Waste impressive after the end of a scientific visit for technical cooperation, which took place in the period 23-30 July. The visit was initiated by the Polish country, which has yet to build nuclear power facilities, and was jointly organized by the Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The purpose of the scientific visit was for the Polish experts to familiarize themselves in due time with various aspects of decommissioning, radioactive waste management (RAW), as well as with the related regulatory activities.
The Polish delegation visited the Permanent Repository for RAW near Novi han to learn firsthand about the more important issues, linked with the monitoring programme, waste acceptance criteria and subsequent management thereof. In the following days of the visit, the focus shifted on the activities of the Specialized Divisions of SERAW at Kozloduy site. In a number of meetings, presentations and discussions at the Information Centre for Decommissioning, experts and part of the management of the Enterprise explained the main points in implementation of the Decommissioning Programme, RAW management, as well as further disposal. The Polish delegation had the opportunity to familiarize themselves visually with SERAW organisation and actual work processes by visiting in-situ the Turbine Hall of Units 1 to 4, Control Room – 2, Free Release Measurement Facility, Size Reduction & Decontamination Workshop, Storage Facility for temporary storage of conditioned RAW and the National Disposal Facility for low- and intermediate-level RAW on Radiana site. At the end of the visit, the Chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency, Tsanko Bachiyski, and the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency of Poland, Andrzej Głowacki, joined the group of Polish experts. Both of them also participated in the final meeting of the scientific visit to SERAW Head Office, where they had a formal conversation with the Chairman of the Management Board of the Enterprise, Sergey Tsochev, on the outcome of the visit and the prospects of strengthening professional relationship.
“We would like to thank you for the hospitality and overall organisation, for the comprehensive informational presentations and for the opportunity to visit real operating facilities of SERAW. The experience of the Bulgarian experts in the field of RAW management is impressive. The SERAW experts gave us many good examples of safe and sustainable radioactive waste management. We are impressed with the successful implementation of the National Disposal Facility project. We look forward to future collaboration,” shared the representatives of the Polish RAW Disposal Enterprise upon ending their scientific visit.
Poland is one of the few countries in the former Socialist Bloc to remain without a nuclear power plant. Currently, the energy transition plans are ambitious, and over the recent years the country has been actively working to build nuclear power facilities.
