Some 100 international experts convened in New Jersey, United States, on 5-8 December for the Workshop on Extended Storage and Transportation of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste from Current and Future Reactor Technologies. The event, co-organised by the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Holtec, brought together a diverse group of participants including policymakers, regulators, lawyers and experts from R&D institutions, industry and waste management organisations.
Following a keynote speech by Paul Murray, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Spent Fuel and Waste Disposition at the US Department of Energy (US DOE), the workshop began with discussions about the status of wet and dry storage of spent fuel activities for light water reactors and the potential challenges associated with extended periods of storage.
“By applying the lessons learnt and continually improving our methods, we can ensure the long-term safety and security of spent fuel from both light water reactors and advanced reactors,” said Rebecca Tadesse, Head of Radioactive Waste Management & Decommissioning Division at the NEA.
Approximately 100 international experts convened in New Jersey, United States, on 5-8 December for the NEA Workshop on Extended Storage and Transportation of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste from Current and Future Reactor Technologies.
The following day focused on the spent fuel and radioactive waste of small modular reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactor systems, considering past experiences from the 1960s and 1970s and the anticipated challenges related to disposal requirements. A dedicated session on transportation allowed the audience to learn about the industry's proven demonstrated responsible management of spent fuel and waste using various transportation systems. The last day of the workshop was dedicated to discussing the importance of social engagement in the planning and development of transportation activities and storage facilities. The workshop audience emphasised the importance of planning and structuring information, knowledge and data management for stored spent fuel over extended periods of up to 100 years.
The exchanges at the workshop helped identify remaining challenges related to the storage and transportation of light water reactor spent fuel. They also highlighted the importance of international co-operation and information sharing in addressing these challenges. The role of the NEA is crucial in bringing together stakeholders and providing recommendations for the storage and transportation of spent fuel and radioactive waste from SMRs and advanced reactors.
For more information on the workshop, visit: Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) - Extended Storage and Transportation of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste from Current and Future Reactor Technologies (oecd-nea.org)
