Management of liabilities at SCK·CEN: Lessons learned

SCK·CEN launched its technical liabilities and waste management program in 1989. This program refers 3 research reactors, 1 zero power reactor and nuclear laboratories buildings. The main decommissioning activities at SCK·CEN are focused on the BR3 reactor, but decommissioning activities are also carried out in other SCK·CEN facilities. These activities mainly concern old equipments and experiments which have to be decommissioned to make room for new R&D projects. In the past, 4 laboratory buildings of SCK·CEN were fully cleaned before they were transferred for unrestricted reuse to a non nuclear institute. The management of spent fuel and nuclear material is also part of this program. It mainly concerns the back end of BR2 HEU spent fuel, the BR3 LEU and MOX spent fuel. The Technical Liabilities and Waste Management Program are continuously monitored. Technical Liabilities costs were estimated in 1989, 1995, 2000 and 2005. This regular reassessment of the liability costs allows identifying the key issues to be tackled for the sound management of the liabilities. The key issues are listed hereafter by order of decreasing importance: • the differences between the assumption made by the State to secure the Technical Liabilities Fund and the observed economical conditions; • the drastic increase of the waste tariff; • the decrease of the clearance levels; • the development of the legislation regarding decommissioning and waste production activities.