At Russia’s Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC, part of Rosaom’s Fuel Company TVEL), the work on the conservation of open storage facilities for liquid radioactive waste – pools B-1 and B-25 – has finally been completed, TVEL said on 12 August. Acceptance of the work was carried out by a commission with the participation of representatives of Rosatom’s Department for the Development and Implementation of Rehabilitation Programmes for Heritage Sites.
The implementation of the conservation projects for the B-1 and B-25 pools was carried out over 10 years within the framework of the Federal Target Programme "Ensuring Nuclear and Radiation Safety for 2016 and for the Period until 2030" (FTP NRS-2).
To create localising barriers, a total of 746,000 cubic metres of soil, 64,000 cubic metres of crushed stone and 85,000 cubic metres of clay were laid on the storage facilities. During the implementation of the projects, a unique technology was used to install barriers to prevent the migration of radionuclides. The total amount of financing amounted to about RUB3 billion ($41m). The Commission noted that the work was completed on time and in full.
Conservation ensured the transfer of open storage facilities B-1 and B-25 to an ecologically safe state. As a result, the accumulated waste is reliably localised and safety barriers made of natural materials are created. TVEL said a responsible approach to eliminating the military legacy helps to reduce the impact on the environment and has a positive effect on the environmental situation in the region in accordance with the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
