Project Scope and Relationship to China's Agenda 21

This project seeks to construct an international standard demonstration project for disposal of L/MLW, as well as uranium waste rock and tailings in China to provide a complete set of guiding technical documents on nuclear waste disposal. It is based on programme area 19B of China's Agenda 21, safe and Environmentally Sound Management of Radioactive Wastes.

1. Background

Necessity for disposal of low- and medium-level solid radioactive waste Qinshan and Daya Bay, have already been constructed and are in operation. It is predicted that the total installed capacity of nuclear power will reach 6,000 MW by the year 2000, while low- and medium-level radioactive waste (L/MLW) from nuclear power plants will reach 10,000 m3. In light of the nuclear energy development program, nuclear power will be developed on a fairly large scale in the coastal areas of Eastern China, providing a large amount of radioactive wastes. Meanwhile, in the civilian nuclear fuel cycle, management of uranium waste rock and tailings and pollution control are poor, Hence, permanent disposal is badly needed. In addition, radioactive wastes are also produced in applications of nuclear technology. In this context, the permanent disposal of nuclear wastes is an important aspect of general public safety.

Working foundation and conditions:

• Environmental Policy on Low- and Medium-level Radioactive Waste Disposal was promulgated in China in 1992;
• Preliminary regional site investigations, selection, and assessments have been carried out in Eastern China;
• Studies on the engineering barrier structures of disposal sites and land filling materials have been made;
• Research and development on pre-disposal treatment of wastes, including incineration and compression have been carried out; and
• Personnel specialized in siting, design, and construction of radioactive waste disposal sites have been trained.

Significance:

• Deepen public understanding of nuclear energy through the final safety disposal of L/MLW;
• Set an example for other L/MLW disposal sites and disposal of uranium waste rock and tailings; and
• Provide reference experience on disposal of L/MLW for other developing countries.

Problems in implementation:

• Nuclear power plants in China have only recently come into operation, and not enough funds exist to construct a demonstration project for disposal of L/MLW;
• China does not have sufficient experience and advanced equipment for disposal and pre-disposal treatment of L/MLW.

• Long-term objectives
  • To establish a legal system on environment and resources to meet the requirements of a market economy and to ensure the achievement of sustainable development.

• Immediate objectives
  • Construct an international standard demonstration project for disposal of L/MLW, as well as uranium waste rock and tailings, which should meet both national and international safety standards, providing a complete set of guiding technical documents on waste disposal.

  • Develop and introduce volume-reduction technology for pre-disposal of radioactive wastes.
  • Achieve final safe disposal of radioactive wastes through siting, design, construction, and operation of disposal sites.
  • Establish a complete set of criteria and working manuals for siting, design, construction, operation, safety and environmental impact assessments and quality assurance.
  • Develop and introduce treatment and disposal technologies for wastes arising from uranium milling, and establishing engineering methods for proper disposal of radioactive wastes.

• Outputs
  • Building one demonstrative disposal site for L/MLW in East China for handling nuclear waste before 2040.
  • The disposal capacity of the demonstrative disposal site will be 200,000 m3, of which the first-phase project will be 20,000 m3;
  • The estimated operation life of the disposal site is about 40 years.
  • Constructing two different demonstration volume-reduction facilities for pre-disposal treatment of radioactive wastes;
  • Incineration facility disposal capacity: 20-30 kg/h
  • Compression facility disposal capacity: 10 m3/d
  • Building a demonstration project for handling tailing ponds and a demonstration project for handling uranium waste rock bank in Jiangxi Province and Hunan Province respectively.

• 3.1 Develop and introduce pre-disposal treatment of radioactive solid waste volume-reduction technologies.
  • Develop and introduce radioactive wastes (containing plastic and rubber products) incineration technology (including the fire grate type and the low-temperature fluidized-bed type) and fume purification technology.
  • Develop and introduce waste compression technology.
  • Establish a demonstration waste incineration facility with a capacity of 20-30 kg/h, and a demonstration waste compression facility with a capacity of 10 m3/d.

    The duration of this activity will be four and half years.

• 3.2 Identify sites for development of disposal models.

  • Carry out siting work for disposal site in Eastern China.
  • Carry out a feasibility study, safety analysis, and environmental impact assessment of the disposal plan, and determine site suitability and plan feasibility.
  • Apply for and acquire a construction licence to be issued by the state departments concerned.
  • Introduce and make reference to foreign advanced safety assessment technology (including models, methods, and equipment), while supplying a set of demonstration technology, methodology, and experience on site feature investigation and safety assessment, which shall eventually result in the preparation of the siting criteria.

    The duration of this activity will be three and half years.

• 3.3 Design disposal sites.

  Invite foreign expertise to design engineering barriers, and anti-leakage devices for the top cover, etc. when a licence is acquired, the disposal site design can begin. The following technical documents shall be provided and the design criteria formulated:

  • Design for engineering barriers and optimal protection; <
  • Design for water-proof and discharge facilities;
  • Design for waste receiving and monitoring systems;
  • Design for remote-control operation systems;
  • Design for monitoring systems;
  • Design for auxiliary facilities;
  • Development and design of special vehicles of waste transportation; and
  • Development and design of special loading equipment for waste packaging containers.

    The duration of this activity will be two years.

• 3.4 Construct model disposal sites.
  • When the design plan is reviewed and approved, construction of the first phase of the disposal site will commence, and disposal site operation licence will be obtained.
  • Construct disposal sites according to the design plan;
  • Establish and implement project QA systems;
  • Conduct safety and environmental assessment;
  • Start trial operation;
  • Accept the first-phase project; and
  • Apply for operation licence.

    The duration of this activity will be one year.

• 3.5 Operate model disposal sites.
  • Establish a set of operational and manipulative regulations;
  • Conduct environmental monitoring inside and outside of the disposal site;
  • Establish and implement systems of QA inspection, acceptance, and registration for waste packages;

    The duration of this activity will be one year.

• 3.6 Research and development treatment and disposal technologies and construction of demonstration project for wastes arising from uranium milling.
  • Research and develop and introduce nonhazardous and secure disposal technologies for uranium waste;
  • Research and develop and introduce safety risk evaluation technologies for uranium tailing ponds;
  • Measure and classify radioactive nuclide in wastes arising from uranium milling;
  • Establish safe stabilizing demonstrative project for uranium waste in Hunan Province;
  • Establish nonhazardous and secure demonstration project for uranium tailing ponds in Jiangxi Province.

• 3.7 Train administrative personnel and senior technical personnel.
  • Conduct consultation with foreign experts;
  • Select and send the administrative personnel and senior technical personnel (10-15 persons) broad for training;
  • Train operators and manipulators at their posts.

    The duration of this activity will be six years. The implementation of this project will be implemented by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).

5. Benefits

Through the construction of the demonstration, nuclear wastes that are produced in the coming years will be disposal of safely, thus reducing the risk of storage, and facilitating environmental protection and public health. Through volume reduction of pre-disposal treatment of wastes, disposal costs can be reduced. The experience and technology to be provided can be followed by other waste disposal projects both in China and in other developing countries. Through the present demonstration project, a relatively complete system of civilian nuclear fuel cycle can be established to promote the development of nuclear energy. The implementation of this project will be beneficial to the country, locality, the general public, and the waste-producing units.