LOW- AND INTERMEDIATE-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL FACILITY AT VRBINA, KRŠKO
Why do we need a LILW disposal facility?
Construction of repository for permanent disposal of low and intermedate level radioactive waste in Slovenia is required by international and domestic law. With this construction we contribute to the realization of the strategic goal of protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.
Like other countries across the world, Slovenia carries out socially and economically useful activities that use radioactive materials that in turn generate radioactive waste. Although the quantities of this waste are relatively small and manageable in comparison with the quantities of other waste, steps have to be taken to ensure that the waste does not contaminate the environment or endanger human health and the health of other living organisms now and in the future.
As a permanent solution, LILW disposal facility is necessary, as this is the only way to ensure conditions for long-term management of low- and medium-level radioactive waste in Slovenia.
Where will the disposal facility be built?
The LILW disposal facility will be built in Vrbina, which is in the Municipality of Krško and east of NEK.
The fenced area of the disposal facility will occupy an area of about 6 hectares. The above-ground facilities or the upper part of the silo, will be built in a flood-proof area. The type and location of the disposal facility is confirmed by state spatial plan.
Scope of disposal facility construction
The LILW disposal facility will include: (1) an administration andservice building, (2) a technological building (3) a silo, (4) a hall above the silo (5) road and utilities infrastructure, (6) and outdoor areas that were finished in the first half of 2024.
The LILW disposal facility will be intended for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste that is generated in the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (NEK) during operation and that will be generated later during decommissioning, as well as radioactive waste that is generated in medicine, research activities and industry in Republic of Slovenia.
With the construction of the LILW disposal facility, conditions will be ensured for the long-term reliable operation of the NPP, which significantly contributes to the reliability of electricity supply in Slovenia, and for the safe, economical and reliable use of radioactive sources in science, medicine and industry. The ethical aspect is also important: the generation that benefits from the use of nuclear energy should also take care of the disposal of radioactive waste and should not unnecessarily transfer this burden to future generations.
The advantage of permanent disposal over storage is passive safety. In storage, safety is ensured by humans, in permanent disposal, safety is ensured without human intervention.
Planning of the disposal facility by phase
Disposal facilities phases
Characteristics of the facility
It is a near-surface facility with a disposal unit in the form of a silo. The disposal silo will have an internal diameter of just over 27 meters and will be 56 meters deep. All waste will be placed in 990 concrete containers, which is sufficient for the entire planned amount of radioactive waste produced in Slovenia until the end of the operation of the NPP (2043) - the Slovenian half of the waste from the operation and decommissioning of the NPP and Slovenian waste, which is generated in industry, medicine and research institutions.
The concrete containers will be placed in the disposal silo using a gantry lift. It will be possible to deposit 10 layers of waste containers, each layer will have 99 containers.
The space between the containers will be filled with sealing material. When the silo is full, it will be closed with a concrete cover and a thick layer of clay. The deposited waste will be protected by a multi-barrier system of artificial and natural barriers. Such a system is internationally recognized as adequate, and a disposal facility built in this way represents a negligible impact on people and the environment, which was proven by extensive safety analyzes in the process of obtaining environmental approval, construction approval and construction permit. Safety analyses will also be carried out before the start of operation, and before closing, as well as during the actual operation. Depending on the needs, it is also possible to build several storage silos on the site.
Cross-section of silo during operation
Cross-section of silo after closure
