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How to deal with dead nuclear reactors?

“The need for national and international mechanisms for early planning, adequate funding and long-term strategies applies not only to decommissioning, but also to radioactive waste management and spent fuel management.”

Closing old atom plants poses safety challenge: IAEA By Fredrik DahlMar 24, 2011  VIENNA (Reuters) – The closing of aging nuclear reactors is expected to peak in 2020-30, posing a major challenge in terms of safety and the environment, a draft U.N. atomic agency report says.The report, submitted to member states of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) shortly before Japan‘s nuclear crisis erupted this month, said the global nuclear sector maintained a high level of safety performance in 2010.

But, it warned, “in some cases, plans for nuclear power program development moved faster than the establishment of the necessary regulatory and safety infrastructure and capacity.”

The document, Nuclear Safety Review for the Year 2010, may attract wider interest and scrutiny in light of events at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

Amano’s safety report for last year noted that of the 441 reactors now in operation around the world, many were built in the 1970s and 1980s, with an average lifespan of about 35 years. The Fukushima plant also dates back to the 1970s.

“Their decommissioning peak will occur from 2020 to 2030 which will present a major managerial, technological, safety and environmental challenge to those states engaged in nuclear decommissioning,” it said.

“The need for national and international mechanisms for early planning, adequate funding and long-term strategies applies not only to decommissioning, but also to radioactive waste management and spent fuel management.”

Giving no details about which reactors faced closure, it also said some countries had started to consider extending operations of their nuclear plants beyond the planned timeframe.

The United States has most operating nuclear reactors in the world with 104 units, followed by France with 58 and Japan with 54, according to the IAEA’s website.

The report also underlined safety-related aspects as many countries consider introducing nuclear energy programs

Closing old atom plants poses safety challenge: IAEA | Reuters

March 26, 2011 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, decommission reactor