An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (Artemis) follow-up mission has evaluated Spain’s progress since the initial Artemis mission in October 2018. The team concluded that all recommendations and suggestions had been addressed.
The review team comprised five international experts with experience in radioactive waste management and nuclear safety from Australia, France, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the UK, as well as four IAEA staff members.
The follow-up mission was carried out at the request of the Government of Spain and hosted by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (Miteco). The team also met with the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN – Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear) and Spain’s national radioactive waste management agency Enresa – Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos.
Spain employs nuclear and radiation technologies across various sectors, including energy production, medicine, industry and research. The country currently operates seven nuclear power reactors, which generate approximately 20% of its electricity. In addition, three nuclear power plants have been permanently shut down and are at different stages of decommissioning. Most reactor sites are equipped with interim spent fuel storage facilities. Spain also maintains a disposal facility for very low, low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste.
The team found that Spain has successfully implemented many recommended actions from the 2018 mission. As a result, the recommendations and suggestions identified in the initial mission were closed.
“The review team acknowledges the major progresses that have been made to successfully respond to the 2018 Artemis mission findings and, in particular, commends Spain for the issuing of the 7th national plan for radioactive waste and spent fuel management as well as for the elaboration of a new roadmap for the development of a deep geological disposal facility,” said mission team leader François Besnus of France.
The mission team highlighted the progress made by Spain in:
- Establishing its 7th General Radioactive Waste plan.
- Addressing the capacity of disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste at the El Cabril Disposal Facility.
- Developing a new strategy for the storage of spent fuel, special waste and high-level radioactive waste.
- Preparing a roadmap for the development of a deep geological repository.
- Ensuring the routine review of the funding mechanisms for radioactive waste management.
- Putting in place a strategy and mechanisms to avoid the loss of knowledge and know-how on radioactive waste and spent fuel management.
- Re-evaluating the adequacy of research and development funding needed to support the step-by-step development of the Deep Geological Disposal programme.
“This Artemis follow-up mission represents an important element in the efforts of Spain to ensure the continuous improvement of our radioactive waste management programme, in accordance with the General Radioactive Waste Plan and the EU radioactive waste directive,” said Victor Marcos, General Director of Energy Planning and Coordination at Miteco. “The outcome of the follow-up mission has been very positive: all five recommendations and the two suggestions have been closed, and, in addition, the review team has provided us with some observations that will be a good basis for future developments.”
The final report of the mission will be provided to the Spanish authorities within three months.
