The construction of the first in Russia plasma complex for reprocessing solid radioactive waste has been started at Novovoronezh NPP. The equipment allowing the reprocessing of practically all types of irradiated materials is planned to allocate on the base of the 2nd unit of NPP, which have been decommissioned in 1990. Firstly, materials from this unit will be utilized.

The deputy chief engineer of Novovoronezh NPP Alexey Shukin emphasized: "During utilization the volume of materials are decreased almost thousand times. This is a new technology for nuclear engineering in Russia. After this procedure one can make green grass plot for recreation.

According to Prime-TASS information, reprocessed radioactive waste will be loaded in special protective containers being also one of the last developments of Russian specialists. Radioactive materials can be storage in these containers up to 300 years including storage during 50 years at NPP, then after decreasing their radioactivity they will be sent to special burial.

New equipment installed at Novovoronezh NPP allow to dispose industrial radiation sources, for example, in medicine and measuring instruments.

SOURCE: AtomInfo.Ru

DATE: July 26, 2007

Topics: Spent Fuel, Russia