1. BUSINESS OVERVIEW
OF NLM
By:
Alan Carolissen
Senior Manager: NLM

2. MISSION
To provide innovative radwaste
management services that are technically
sound, environmentally responsible,
economic feasible and that meets or
exceeds customer expectations

3. BUSINESS PORTFOLIO
• Management of radioactive waste (Treatment,
Conditioning, Characterization and Disposal)
• Management of spent disused sealed source
(Treatment, Conditioning, Characterization and
Disposal);
• Siting and site characterisation and design of new
nuclear facilities
• D&D of redundant nuclear facilities
• Decontamination Services
• Site remediation
• Developing of Waste Management Strategies, Plans and
Methodologies
• Radiological Consultancy Services
• Nuclear Liability Assessment

4. CUSTOMERS
• South Africa Government
– Department of Energy
– Department of Health
• Commercial Customers
– International Atomic Energy Agency
– Governments: Kenya, Sudan, Thailand, Malta, Brazil, Ghana,
Philippines, etc
– Companies: Eskom, Sasol; Uramin, De Beers, Rössing, Langer
Heinrich, etc

5. NLM
ACTIVITIES
AND
FACILITIES

6. NLM ACTIVITIES AND FACILITIES
 Wet and Dry Decontamination: Decontamination Facility, Smelter
 Source Management: Source Store in Area 24, Thabana Bunkers
 LILW Waste storage: Pelstore, A-West Drum Storage, Thabana Stores
 Used Fuel Storage: Pipe Store
 Waste Characterisation: IQ3 in Pelstore and Drum Scanner in A-West
 Waste Processing: Volume Reduction Facility
 “Waste Disposal”: Thabana Trenches
 Decommissioning of dismantling of facilities: Various redundant facilities

7. 7
D&D OF DISUSED NUCLEAR FACILITIES
Uranium
Enrichment
Fuel fabrication
Weapons programme

8. DECOMMISSIONING
BEFORE

11. DURING DECOMMISSIONING

12. DECOMMISSIONING COMPLETED

13. NOW REUSE AS WASTE STORE

14. DECONTAMINATION
TV COILS IN D BUILDING CONTAMINATED PIPES

15. DECONTAMINATION FACILITY

16. DECONTAMINATION
AFTER DECONTAMINATION CLEARED MATERIAL

17. Predisposal Operations
17

18. 18

19. BusshedArea 21
Other Storage Areas

20. SOURCE STORE AND BUNKER

21. USED FUEL STORAGE

22. WASTE DISPOSAL REPOSITORY: VAALPUTS

23. 23

24. REHABILITATED TRENCHES

25. KEY WASTE
MANAGEMENT
PROJECTS

26. 26

27. SMELTER

28. 28
Project Status: Furnace Platform
Installed Furnace Bodies Furnace Body with Fume Hood

29. 29
Project Status: Furnaces

30. 30
Smelter off-gas System
Cyclone
Cartridge Filters
Hepa Filters

31. 31
Project Status: Off-Gas System
Cyclone Filter Cartridge Filter Bank

32. 32
Project Status: Off-Gas System
Cyclone Filter Cartridge Filter Bank

33. IAEA COOPERATION
• MOBILE HOT CELL MISSIONS
33

34. 34

35. OTHER KEY PROJECTS
• D&D of PTR Tanks
• Disposal of Steam Generators
35

36. IAEA COOPERATION

37. IAEA COOPERATION
• Integration of Mobile Hot Cell with Borehole Disposal
Concept
37

38. CONFIDENCE
BUILDING
INITIATIVES

39. 39
Demonstrate Technical Competence
• Full disclosure of facility operational compliance
• Disseminate information on Nuclear safety,
Radiation & nuclear related matters, including
but not limited to nuclear incidents and
accidents
• Conduct regular third party verification audits
• Invite stakeholders to third party verification
audits as observers
• Investment in R&D activities
39

40. 40 40
Embracing Best Practices
ISO 9001 ACCREDITATION ISO 14001 ACCREDITATION

41. 41
Building Stakeholder Capacity

42. 42
Building Stakeholder Capacity

43. 43
Nuclear Science &Technology Education Programme
Education and Training Focusing on Nuclear Science &
Technology”
Kamiesberg Educational Trust Fund
Corporate Bursary Fund
Schools Outreach Programme
• National Science Week
• Brochures & Posters
• Tours & Visits

44. 44
Key Learnings
• Demonstrating technical competence and regulatory compliance are
not enough to instill stakeholder confidence
• Accommodate divergent values and beliefs equally, considering them
all when making decisions
• Empower your stakeholders with the necessary knowledge to enable
them to participate in decision making process in an informed
manner
• You can successfully addressed negative public perceptions by
creating a multi-stakeholder platform for dialogue and collaborative
problem-solving.
• These platforms catalyzed innovation, built trust, reduced conflict
and created the conditions necessary for building sustainable,
mutually beneficial long term stakeholder relationships

45. 45
Concluding Remarks
• Biggest challenge of any radwaste management related
activity is to ensure societal and political acceptance
• Advancement of enhanced stakeholder participation
and corporate transparency goes hand in glove
• Demonstrating technical competence and safe
operations are key parts of building stakeholder
confidence, however its not enough to ensure
stakeholder acceptability.
• Stakeholder confidence building strategies and policies
must take into account cultural diversities.

46. 46
To Ensure Societal and Political Acceptance…
Make communication, public
participation and stakeholder
engagement
Part of your Radwaste
Management DNA !!!

47. THANK YOU