| Status of decommissioning activities of Italian Nuclear Power Plants (Italian NPP) Following the government’s decision for a prompt decommissioning of four Italian plants by the end of 2020, Sogin proceeded to modify the pre-existing programmes which considered the safestore strategy and the dismantling after a period ranging between 40 and 50 years.
The new programmes have been developed in accordance with a logical sequence which calls for continuation of the activities already underway on uncontaminated systems or systems with low contamination levels.
On the basis of these new programmes, the complete decommissioning of the plants is planned as follows: Garigliano and Trino by the end of 2016, Caorso by the end of 2017 and Latina by the end of 2019.
The schedule takes into account the construction and subsequent availability of the national repository radioactive waste (this task is not in the responsibility of Sogin).
The decommissioning programme considers three main phases: - the first phase, until year 2005 (the date now planned the beginning of the construction of the national repository), during which activities are carried out in such a way to ensure that a possible delay in the construction of the national repository would result in limited additional costs.
The amount of waste produced is sufficiently low and, if necessary, can be managed on site with the procedures, resources and tools presently available; main activities are on non-contaminated (or very low-contaminated) systems and on conditioning of operating wastes. - the second phase, from 2006 to 2008 (the date now planned for the completion of the national repository): this phase involves activities carried out in preparation for the decommissioning of the nuclear island. Possible delays in the construction of the national repository could result in more significant additional costs.
However, the waste produced during this period can still be managed on site. - the third phase, from 2009 onward, involves the actual decommissioning of the nuclear island and a delay in the availability of the national repository would necessarily result in the postponement of related works and in additional significant costs, also largely due to the extraordinary "on site" management of waste.
Main activities and status of decommissioning for the four plants are briefly outlined below: - Caorso
The reactor has been defuelled and the fuel is now stored in the pool of the plant.
An "on site Interim storage" will be realised by 2004. On August 4, 2000 the Ministry of Industry issued a Decree authorising the following decommissioning activities (for other activities the presentation of a global decommissioning plan is required within one year from the above cited Decree and has been presented on august 3rd, 2001):- dry storage of irradiated fuel
- dismantling of the turbine and Off-Gas
- dismantling of the RHR towers
- decontamination of the main circuit
- treatment of previously produced waste
Planning activities together with on-site preparatory activities have continued, mainly operational wastes treatment and conditioning and the revision of the radiological inventory of the turbine.
Main activities are devoted to selection and preparation of technologies and systems needed in the future.
- Garigliano
The Garigliano plant was near to reach the safestore condition when the changement of strategy occurred. The reactor is defuelled and no fuel is now on the site.
The radiological characterisation has been completed and safe enclosure of reactor building and turbine building were achieved in the past. All operating wastes have been treated; no more necessary radwaste tanks have been dismantled and modification of the system for decommissioning are in progress.
The global decommissioning plan with the new strategy has been presented to initiate the decommissioning licensing procedure on august 3rd, 2001.
- Latina
The reactor is defuelled and no fuel is now on the site. The global decommissioning plan with the new strategy will be presented to initiate the decommissioning licensing procedure by the end of 2001.
The radiological characterisation has been completed and the decontamination of the spent fuel pool is achieved. Previously produced waste has been super-compacted. It is expected to get shortly the approval to the dismantling of the primary conduits.
- Trino
The reactor has been defuelled and the fuel is now stored in the pool of the plant (and in another pool on a nearby site).
An "on site Interim storage" will be realised by 2003. The global decommissioning plan with the new strategy will be presented to initiate the decommissioning licensing procedure by the end of 2001.
The dismantling of non nuclear components and systems no longer considered necessary and removal of asbestos in the turbine building are ongoing.
source: European website on Decommissioning of Nuclear Installations
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