Belgian engineering firm Tractebel and nuclear operator Electrabel, (both part of Engie) have filled the first High Integrity Container (HIC) as part of the project to empty the used fuel pools at the unit 3 of Belgium’s Doel NPP. Doel 3, which was closed in September 2022, is now undergoing decommissioning.
The project involves non-fissile components from the used fuel pools that contain part of the intermediate-level radioactive waste from the nuclear reactor. The process began in 2021 and should be completed by 2027. It includes cutting components and the separation of waste into short-lived low- and intermediate-level waste (CAT-A) and long-lived low- and intermediate-level waste (CAT-B) classes.
The CAT-B waste will be evacuated using high-integrity containers (HIC), which will be immobilised and delivered to Belgoprocess, the company responsible for the safe processing of radioactive waste produced in Belgium. Meanwhile, the CAT-A waste will be evacuated using 400-litre drums, which will be delivered unconditioned to the WAB (Water and Waste treatment building) at Doel NPP and TDS T2 (Solid Waste treatment building) at the Tihange NPP. Additionally, this project involved the radiological characterisation of the non-fissile components of the EOP (emptying of the pools) waste.
Tractebel says its engineers are responsible for performing all radiological characterisation studies to accurately categorise the used fuel pools’ waste. In parallel, they oversee the technical follow-up, which includes documentation review and fabrication follow-up of the contractor responsible for delivering the high-integrity containers and executing the on-site works.
It is the first time that Tractebel has characterised components of the used fuel pools that have to be classified as CAT-B waste material. “Our engineers are leveraging Tractebel’s extensive experience with fuel and CAT-A containers to design the CAT-B waste containers, Tractebel noted. “Both tasks must be integrated into the qualification files (method, package, and radiological) required by ONDRAF/NIRAS, the Belgian radioactive waste management organisation, to which Electrabel will transfer the property of the filled containers.”
Deborah Van Den Brande, Group Manager DECOM Doel Projects, Tractebel, said the project represents a significant achievement for Tractebel and Electrabel. “The innovative approach to radiologically characterising and managing the used fuel pool’s radioactive waste sets a new standard in nuclear decommissioning. The expertise of our engineers, who have worked in integrated teams with Electrabel, has been crucial in ensuring the project’s success.”
