Planning of a low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility

According to the national programme, the basic task of the public service in relation to preparation for the construction and the construction itself of the low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) repository is to put in place a safe and effective LILW repository in Slovenia. 

Construction of repository for permanent disposal of low and intermedate level radioactive waste  in Slovenia is required by international and domestic law.  

The LILW disposal facility designed by Slovenia will be of the near-surface type, with a disposal unit in the form of a silo and will be built at Vrbina in the Municipality of Krško. The type and site of the repository have been approved under the National Spatial Plan. Work will comprise the construction of an administration/service and technological facility, a disposal silo, a hall above the silo, and road and utilities infrastructure. The external areas will be landscaped. 

The repository is intended for the disposal of LILW produced at Krško Nuclear Power Plant (Krško NPP) during its operation and its subsequent decommissioning and institutional radioactive waste produced by medical, research and industrial activities in Slovenia. 

Construction of the LILW repository will establish the conditions for the reliable long-term operation of NEK, which contributes significantly to the secure supply of electricity in Slovenia, and for the safe, cost-effective and stable use of radioactive sources in science, medicine and industry. The ethical aspect is also important: the generation that derives benefits from the use of nuclear energy should also be responsible for disposing of radioactive waste and should not place an unnecessary burden on future generations. 

Permanent disposal has the advantage of passive safety over the storage of waste in storage facilities, i.e. with storage, safety is ensured by human intervention, while with permanent disposal it is ensured without human intervention. 

Planning of a low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility

According to the national programme, the basic task of the public service in relation to preparation for the construction and the construction itself of the low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste (LILW) repository is to put in place a safe and effective LILW repository in Slovenia. 

Construction of repository for permanent disposal of low and intermedate level radioactive waste  in Slovenia is required by international and domestic law.  

The LILW disposal facility designed by Slovenia will be of the near-surface type, with a disposal unit in the form of a silo and will be built at Vrbina in the Municipality of Krško. The type and site of the repository have been approved under the National Spatial Plan. Work will comprise the construction of an administration/service and technological facility, a disposal silo, a hall above the silo, and road and utilities infrastructure. The external areas will be landscaped. 

The repository is intended for the disposal of LILW produced at Krško Nuclear Power Plant (Krško NPP) during its operation and its subsequent decommissioning and institutional radioactive waste produced by medical, research and industrial activities in Slovenia. 

Construction of the LILW repository will establish the conditions for the reliable long-term operation of NEK, which contributes significantly to the secure supply of electricity in Slovenia, and for the safe, cost-effective and stable use of radioactive sources in science, medicine and industry. The ethical aspect is also important: the generation that derives benefits from the use of nuclear energy should also be responsible for disposing of radioactive waste and should not place an unnecessary burden on future generations. 

Permanent disposal has the advantage of passive safety over the storage of waste in storage facilities, i.e. with storage, safety is ensured by human intervention, while with permanent disposal it is ensured without human intervention.