Strategy for isolating radioactive wastes in geological formations in ukraine and organization of a collaboration of the countries of eastern Europe for scientific research

Abstract

Large volumes of high-and medium-level radioactive wastes have now accumulated on the territory of Ukraine. They include spent nuclear fuel, technological wastes from nuclear power plants, fuel-containing mass and other wastes from the damaged power generating unit at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant. The total volume of wastes which must be removed amounts to about 60,000 tonnes.The wastes present a real and potential danger to man and the environment. In the Ukraine the scientific research work on isolating them was started in 1993. An analysis of the territory of Ukraine was performed from the standpoint of waste storage. Three geological regions, which are favorable for storage, were chosen: Ukrainian Shield, Dneprovsko-Donetsk depression, northwest Donbass, and provisionally the Volyno-Azov plate. Three favorable types of geological formations have been designated -crystalline, argillaceous, and saliferous.Regional investigations in the regions designated have identified zones which are favorable for waste storage. At subsequent stages candidate sections were chosen in the designated zones. Four sections were chosen within the Ukrainian shield on the territory of the Korosten pluton (Zhitomir region), and eight salt domes, which are most favorable for removing wastes, have been designated in the DneprovskoDonetsk depression.Special geological-exploratory work on studying the sections will be performed at a subsequent stage. Next, on the basis of an analysis of the data, they will be ranked and the most promising ones will be identified. A conceptual critical analysis of the main technological directions will be performed at the same time. Possible variants of the conditioning of the radioactive wastes for burial have been designated.In September 1995 an international conference on "Isolation of radioactive wastes in geological formations" was held in Kiev. In the resolution of the conference it was noted that an organization of combined scientific-research and experimental-design work on this problem, specifically, the problem of studying the conditions for burying wastes in geological formations, would be desirable. A comprehensive project was prepared at the determination of the conference.The scientific research work that has been performed shows that Ukraine has adequate scientific and technological potential for realization of the problems associated with the construction of objects for isolating wastes in geological formations.