RAW Management
RAW management and SF management fully complies with the Policy of Radioactive Waste Management and Spent Fuel Management. This Policy, adopted by the Czech Government on May 15, 2002 (Government Resolution No. 487/2002), is a fundamental document which defines the RAW and SF management strategies of the Government and its agencies approximately by 2025, with an outlook to the end of the 21st century.
The requirements RAW management are defined in the Atomic Act (Sections 24-31) and in Decree No. 307/2002 Coll. (Sections 46-55).
State Office for Nuclear Safety annually publishes a report on the management of radioactive waste in the CR - see below (Section 3 Para 2 Point k of The Act No. 18/1997 Coll.: “The Office shall provide information to municipalities and District Authorities concerning radioactive waste management within their territory of administration”).
The Czech Republic is a signatory to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. In agreement with the obligations resulting from its accession to the Joint Convention, the Czech Republic has compiled already the fourth National Report for the purpose of review meetings of the Contracting Parties, which describes the spent fuel and radioactive waste management system in the scope required by the specific articles of the Joint Convention. The National Report provides, at the national level, a source of up-to-date and public information on spent fuel and radioactive waste management practices across the facilities subject to the Joint Convention. The results from the two initial review meetings of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention held in 2003, 2006 and 2009 and the existing practices make it possible to conclude that spent fuel and radioactive waste management in the Czech Republic fully complies with the provisions of Joint Convention.
Conditioning of radioactive waste
Liquid RAW (radioactive concentrate) from NPPs Dukovany and Temelín is immobilized in bitumen, ie. into a form complying with waste acceptance criteria for disposal. The main process equipment is a film rotor evaporator where the concentrate is mixed with bitumen and water is evaporated. The resulting product is filled into 200-liter drums. Solid waste is compacted into 200-liter drums or incinerated and supercompacted abroad.
Sludge and ion exchangers from NPP Temelín are treated by immobilization in aluminosilicate matrix using a portable device and SIAL technology.
Liquid radioactive waste (concentrate) and solid radioactive waste (after compacting) from the NRI Rez are immobilized in cement in drums.
Radioactive waste disposal
For the purpose of management of activities associated with RAW disposal, the Ministry of Industry and Trade set up the organization of SÚRAO (RAWRA - Radioactive Waste Repository Authority)
Costs of activities associated with RAW and SF disposal are paid from the nuclear account, a source funded by RAO and SF generators in agreement with the Atomic Act and the Government Order while the nuclear account as part of the governmental assets and liabilities is managed by the Ministry of Finance. This ensures that disposal costs for waste currently generated will not be transferred to future generations.
Currently there are three radioactive waste repositories (ÚRAO, RAW repository) at the territory of the Czech Republic in operation - ÚRAO Dukovany, ÚRAO Richard and ÚRAO Bratrství.
Reports on the management of radioactive waste in the Czech Republic (in relation to the requirement to inform municipalities and counties in the management of radioactive waste on the territory they administer according to Section 3 Para 2 letter k) of the Act No. 18/1997 Coll.; in Czech):
More information about radwaste management in the CR is in an annually updated database of the IAEA NEWMDB (Net Enabled Waste Management Database).