International information exchange in decommissioning encourages the application of safe, environmentally sound and cost-effective approaches in all decommissioning projects. The NEA’s Co-operative Programme for the Exchange of Scientific and Technical Information Concerning Nuclear Installation Decommissioning Projects (CPD) ensures that best operational experience in decommissioning is made widely available for current and future projects.
The programme held its Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meeting in Bratislava, Slovakia on 18-22 October 2021 with experts working in 73 decommissioning projects from 15 NEA member countries, two non-member economies and the European Commission (EC). During the meeting, participating experts presented the current status of their national fuel facility and reactor decommissioning projects. Experience and lessons learned in the management of decommissioning were discussed during these presentations.
During topical sessions, the participants were given a general overview of the Slovak legal system for nuclear back-end projects, as well as a presentation on qualification of technological innovation by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) for decommissioning and dismantling projects. The meeting also included a session addressing the recent improvements in the TAG Knowledge Base, which is continuously updated with data and information on CPD participating projects.
The meeting ended with site visits to the Bohunice Nuclear Power Plant, Radioactive Waste Treatment Center, Interim Storage of Radioactive Waste and the Mochovce Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility. This kind of practical information exchange, lessons learnt and experience sharing are invaluable components of the bi-annual TAG meetings.
