OREANDA-NEWS. On November 17-19, the International Conference on Nuclear Decommissioning (ICOND) took place in Bonn (Germany). It was organized by Aachen Institute for Nuclear Training together with Rheinland Technical Inspections Organization (TÜV Rheinland). 

This event brought together over 250 representatives of nuclear industry, power enterprises, technical inspections and ministries, as well as research institutes from all over the world. Representatives of the Federal Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety (JSC FCNRS) and NUKEM Technologies attended the conference on behalf of Rosatom State Corporation.

The main goal of the international conference was to discuss the issues of nuclear decommissioning including the nuclear power station dismantling. The scientific program of the event also comprised reports on the topic of licensing and legal regulation of these activities, planning and realization of national and international projects, as well as on the issues of radioactive waste reprocessing and disposal. During a panel discussion the participants touched upon the efficient management of costs related to the nuclear facilities decommissioning.
 
The report entitled “Russian Strategy for NPP Decommissioning” was presented by Artem Izmestiev, Lead Engineer at the Development Department of the JSC Pilot & Demonstration Center for Decommissioning of Uranium-Graphite Reactors (JSC DNR Center), which is part of Rosatom State Corporation. “Since Germany will continue to implement its program on the nuclear power phase-out in the decades ahead, German NPP operators may need help in the realization of its ambition plans on the nuclear facilities decommissioning,” says Artem Izmestiev. “The results of a targeted federal program aimed at the solution of the nuclear heritage problems demonstrate that Russian experience in the nuclear facilities decommissioning, spent nuclear fuel reprocessing and improvement of the safety and control systems can be successfully used in Germany as well. Russia is ready to offer an end-to-end solution to the tasks of providing a nuclear and radiation safety.”
 
On the last day of the conference a report was presented by Dr. Hauke Grages, a representative of NUKEM Technologies (subsidiary of the JSC Atomstroyexport) that specializes in services related to the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel, as well as in radiation facilities decommissioning. The topic of his presentation was “Local Melting of Metallic Wastes from Decommissioning.” “By now, as a result of the exploitation and repair works at NPPs, a significant amount of solid radioactive waste has been accumulated. There is equipment that is now past its warranty period, there are various materials, construction elements, overalls, construction waste, fibrous thermal insulation material waste, etc. With the decommissioning of nuclear power units the amount of radioactive waste is constantly growing. In connection with this, Energiewende raises a question of radioactive waste management – nuclear waste reprocessing and construction of storages providing the necessary safety conditions. Possessing a huge experience of work in the markets of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste NUKEM Technologies is ready to provide safe conditions for long-term storage and reprocessing of radioactive materials,” Dr. Hauke Grages stated at the conference.