Australia repatriates radioactive waste

Monday, 7 December 2015

The first phase of a project to repatriate Australian radioactive waste has been completed, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization (Ansto) confirmed yesterday.

Workers secure the waste, in its 6.5 metre long, 95 tonne, forged steel transport container, for the final part of its journey to Lucas Heights (Image: Ansto)

The shipment of waste left France on 15 October on the nuclear-rated ship BBC Shanghai, and arrived in Port Kembla, New South Wales, on 5 December. The waste was transported from the port to Ansto's interim storage facility at Lucas Heights the following day.

The waste is from the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel from Australia's Hifar research reactor, which closed in 2007 after 49 years of operation. The fuel was shipped to France for reprocessing under agreements between the Australian and French governments, which stipulated that the waste must be returned to Australia.

Eight shipments of used nuclear fuel left Australia between 1996 and 2009 - four shipments to France, three shipments to the USA and one shipment to the UK. Waste from the UK will return in the second half of this decade, while the used fuel sent to the USA will stay there permanently, in line with US policy.

Ansto head of nuclear services Hef Griffiths thanked the state and government agencies involved in the repatriation, known as Operation Cormorant. The repatriated material will be temporarily held at Ansto's interim waste facility until it is moved to Australia's National Radioactive Waste Management Facility (NRWMF), he said.

While Australia does not use produce nuclear power it does have a long history of nuclear research, including the operation of HIFAR to produce radioisotopes for use in medicine, research and industry, work that continues today at the Opal research reactor. Radioactive wastes arising from medical, research and industrial processes is currently stored at more than 100 locations across the country, including hospitals, mining sites and research centres until the NRWMF is site, built and licensed.

Australia is working to establish the NRWMF - a single, national facility that is geologically stable and safe, and built after consultation with the local community - so that it can store its radioactive waste in line with international best practice. Earlier this year the Australian government shortlisted six sites for further evaluation and public consultation - one each in New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland plus three in South Australia. The final site selection for the NRWMF is expected to be made next year.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News