nuclear-news

Radioactive Waste Becomes Growing Problem Spent Nuclear Fuel to Surpass 30,000 Tons in 2032

THE KOREA TIMES By Kim Tong-hyung  1 Oct 09
“……………..experts warn that the growing amount of spent nuclear fuel could provide a massive headache in the future.

A report by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) has revealed that the country’s amassed radioactive spent fuel passed the 10,000-ton mark for the first time at around 10,101 tons.

Considering the government’s plans to expand the role of nuclear power in the country’s energy supply, the amount of nuclear waste is expected to reach 20,199 tons in 2020 and 30,211 tons in 2032, KAERI said, while passing the 40,000-ton mark around 2061…………….. Despite the growing concern over nuclear waste, the country has yet to start discussions to find ways to make spent nuclear fuel safe, let alone convince the environmentalists. Coming up with a storage system is a critical matter, as it could be about 100,000 years before the toxic waste loses its radioactivity.

Currently, the country is tentatively keeping spent nuclear fuel at the nuclear plants, although the storage facilities at some are expected to be saturated starting 2016. http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2009/10/123_52836.html