Repatriation of Vinča RA reactor spent fuel

Abstract

The RA research reactor is located at the Vinč a Institute of Nuclear Sciences near Belgrade, Serbia. The reactor is a 6?5 MW, tank-type, heavy water moderated and cooled reactor of Russian design which commenced operation in 1959. After being temporarily shut down in 1984 for refurbishment, a final shutdown decision was made in 2002. Operations are underway to safely remove and repatriate the spent nuclear fuel (SNF) to the Russian Federation (RF), as well as to improve waste management throughout the Vinč a site and prepare a plan for reactor decommissioning. As a major activity within the Vinč a Institute Nuclear Decommissioning (VIND) Programme, the repatriation of over 8000 SNF elements containing 2?5 tons of uranium metal will significantly reduce nuclear proliferation and environmental safety risks confronting the current facility. Poor water quality in the SNF storage basins and degraded fuel integrity significantly challenge efforts to repackage and transport the SNF. This paper will focus on the activities related to SNF repackaging and shipment, report on progress, detail significant challenges and provide an overview of the fully integrated VIND project.