Salaspils Research Reactor
Summary
Salaspils Research Reactor is located in Latvia. It was the only civilian research reactor in the Baltics.[1] The plant partook in neutron activation analysis and gamma irradiation for various materials.
The research reactor was originally built according to former USSR design as a pool-type light water-water reactor with nominal thermal power 2 MW. Since 1975, after physical reconstruction of the reactor, the nominal thermal power of the reactor was increased up to 5 MW. In 1995 the Cabinet of Ministers made the decision to start preparations for the decommissioning and in 1998 the second decision was made about permanent shutdown of the reactor.[2]
The estimated amount of radioactive waste that the decommissioning of SRR will generate is 1200 m³, which is much larger amount of radioactive waste than what was made during the operational period.[3]
There was a small radioactive waste storage on the site of SRR (in operation 1975-2005) where some parts dismantled from reactor core were stored after reconstruction activities in 1975. After characterisation and re-packing all waste was transferred to the radioactive waste repository „Radons“ in Baldone. The spend fuel was sent Russia in May 2008 within the framework of USA–IAEA–Russia co-operation project and Latvia–Russia governmental agreement on co-operation in the spent fuel management.[4]
Links
- Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia (Supervisor): http://www.varam.gov.lv/eng
- Latvian Environment, Geology and Meteorology Centre, State Ltd. Company (Manager): http://www.meteo.lv
- Salaspils Municipality: http://www.salaspils.lv
- SRR in media:
- http://www.tvnet.lv/zala_zeme/daba/371442-salaspils_kodolreaktora_turpinas_demontaza_cik_tas_dross (includes video - a rare opportunity to see SRR from the inside!)
Technical Information
- Salaspils Research Reactor (SRR)
- Location: Salaspils, District of Salaspils, Latvia, 2 km from the centre of Salaspils city, 25 km from Riga, the capital
- State Property
- Type of Reactor: Pool Type 5 MWth IRT Reactor
- In Operation: September 26, 1961- June19,1998
- Status: Closed
- Population of the Area: 23 312 (data as of 01.01.2012)
Background Information
The reactor was operational from 1969 to July 1998. The plant partook in neutron activation analysis and gamma irradiation for various materials. It was a pool-type reactor. In May 1995, the Latvian government decided to shut down the Research Reactor Salaspils (SRR) and to dispense with nuclear energy in future.
The IRT research reactor in Salaspils site near the capital of Latvia – Riga was put into operation in September 1961. The research reactor was originally built according to former USSR design as a pool-type light water-water reactor with nominal thermal power 2 MW. Since 1975, after physical reconstruction of the reactor, the nominal thermal power of the reactor was increased up to 5 MW. On 16 May 1995, the Cabinet of Ministers had made the order to shut down SRR and requested to start the preparation of a concept for decommissioning.
The relevant technical co-operation project on decommissioning the research reactor was submitted to IAEA for 1997/1998. There were 5 expert missions from IAEA from July 1997 until June 1998. The conclusion was made, that the total decommissioning and dismantling costs would amount to ECU[5] 17-20 millions.
The following budget plan (price base 1998) statements for the decommissioning and dismantling of SRR were made:
- The annual costs at the beginning of the decommissioning and dismantling project (1999-2000) were comparatively low and amounted to approximately ECU 700,000.00 per year;
- The costs during the licensing phase are higher and amount to approximately ECU 1,940,000.00 in 2001 and ECU 2,780,000.00 in 2002.
- The highest annual investments of approximately ECU 5,560,000,00 are required in 2003, when the necessary additional equipment (fuel handling, waste treatment) will be delivered and the modifications at SRR have to be done.
- Subsequently, the annual costs decrease to approximately ECU 3,056,000.00 in 2004 (main tasks are the delivery of the transport and storage casks and the execution of the fuel reloading).
- The annual costs during the final dismantling period amounts to approximately ECU 850,000.00 in the years 2005 to 2008 and were covered by Latvian side.
Irradiated nuclear fuel of Salaspils research reactor in Latvia has been delivered to the Production Association Mayak in Russia. The enterprise’s press service reports the train load of spent nuclear fuel arrived at Mayak on May 15 2008. The delivery was arranged for in an agreement between Russia and Latvia regarding repatriation of spent nuclear fuel of the research reactor shutdown in Salaspils.
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