National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill Presentation to the NCOP Select Committee on...
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Transcript of National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill Presentation to the NCOP Select Committee on...
National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill
Presentation to the NCOP Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs
October 2008
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• Background• International Practice• National Radioactive Waste Disposal
Institute Bill
Outline
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• Activities Generating Radioactive waste– Electricity production– Radiopharmaceuticals production– Radioisotope Production– Decontamination and decommissioning
waste– Research and development
Background
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Status of Radioactive waste in RSA• Spent Fuel (HLW) – Generated At
Koeberg and at SAFARI-1 at NECSA• Koeberg Spent fuel - about 95% of total
spent fuel inventory• Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW)
from Koeberg disposed at Vaalputs • LILW from NECSA still on the Pelindaba
site
Background…
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• White Paper on Energy Policy 1998– Develop a radioactive waste
management policy
• Current governance and management framework– Nuclear Energy Act: Authority over
Management of Radioactive Waste and Storage of irradiated fuel vests in the Minister• Regulations made in consultation with
Ministers – Environmental Affairs & Tourism and Water Affairs & Forestry
Background…
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• Current Governance and Management Framework– Eskom manages own waste, LILW to
Vaalputs– Necsa manages own & waste from
small operators as well, all currently on-site
– The National Nuclear Regulator issue nuclear authorisations and implements compliance programmes
– RSA acceded to the IAEA Joint Convention in 2006
Background…
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Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy, 2005
• Lasting Long-Term solution to radioactive waste
• Safe Management• Adequate Provision for radioactive waste
management• Institutional Framework
Background…
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Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy mandated formation of:
• National Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (NCRWM)– members: DEAT, DWAF, Health & NNR.
• National Radioactive Waste Management Agency through statute (Now called Disposal Institute)
• Radioactive Waste Management Fund (RWMF) through statute
Background…
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International Best Practice• International Best Practice in the nuclear sector
to have an Independent (of Generators of waste) Institute managing the disposal of Radioactive Waste
• Generators of Radioactive Waste Should not be entrusted the duty of also managing waste disposal
• An separate Institute frees the generators of waste to concentrate on their core mandate.
• Countries that have independent agencies include France, Spain, Hungary, Canada, Japan, Belgium etc.
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• Establish the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute.
• Institute will be responsible for Management of Radioactive Waste Disposal on a national basis, on behalf of the Minister.
• The Institute will be wholly owned by the State.
National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill: Purpose
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• Controlled by a Board of Directors• On the Board: DME, DEAT, DWAF,
Health (+ no more than 5 other directors)• Chief Executive Officer • Chief Financial Officer
Control and Management
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Functions of the Institute• Meet institutional Obligations of the Minister
related to management of Radioactive Waste as provided for by the Nuclear Energy Act
• Design and implement Disposal Solutions• Develop Radioactive Waste Acceptance and
Disposal criteria• Assess and inspect the acceptability of waste
for disposal and to issue disposal certificate• Manage, Operate and Monitor operational
disposal Facilities• Manage and Monitor Closed disposal
facilities
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Functions of the Institute… • Investigate the need for any new
disposal facilities• Site, design and construct new facilities
as required• Define and conduct research and
development aimed at long term radioactive waste management
• Maintain a national radioactive waste database
• Manage any Ownerless radioactive waste on behalf of the State
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Functions of the Institute…
• Assist generators of small quantities radioactive waste in the management of their waste
• Provide information on radioactive waste management to the public living around disposal facilities and the public in general
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Licensing of Institute • The Institute’s facilities will be licensed
by the National Nuclear Regulator. The NNR does not dispose waste but regulate activities in the nuclear sector
Financial Management• Institute will be a Schedule 3 public entity
in terms of the PFMA• Institute will be allowed to accumulate
surplus funds
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Funds• Money appropriated by Parliament• Money transferred from the Radioactive
Waste Management Fund (once established)
• Money received for services rendered to waste generators (cost recovery)
• Income or interest earned on cash balances
• Loans raised in terms of the PFMA• Donations or contributions with the
approval of the Minister
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Disposal Certificate
• Generators shall apply to the CEO for a waste disposal certificate
• CEO may determine conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the radioactive waste acceptance criteria
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Responsibilities of Generators of Radioactive waste
• Technical, Financial and Administrative management of wastes at their premises and during transportation
• Develop and implement site specific waste management plans based on National Policy
• Provide all relevant information on Radioactive waste destined for disposal
• Demonstrate compliance with conditions of disposal certificate
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Assets and Liabilities• All assets, liabilities, licences, obligations
and authorisations of the Vaalputs National Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility operated by NECSA will vest in the Institute
• All employees of Necsa at the Vaalputs Disposal Facility will become staff members of the Institute
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Regulations• Bill provides for the Minister to make
regulations
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Thank you