Bangladesh faces new challenges in managing radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel as it transitions to using nuclear power. It will need to develop its legal and regulatory framework, build new infrastructure and facilities, and gain specialized knowledge and skills. It is important to have a holistic, integrated national policy and strategy from the beginning that addresses all types of waste and outlines responsibilities. Mature technologies exist for pre-disposal management and disposal of low-level waste, though geological disposal is ultimately needed for spent fuel and high-level waste. Developing human resources, maintaining societal acceptance, securing adequate long-term funding, and engaging in international cooperation will also be important aspects of Bangladesh's radioactive waste management program.

1. International Atomic Energy Agency
New challenges for Bangladesh regarding
management of RW and SNF
P. Ormai
*Waste Technology Section
Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology
International Atomic Energy Agency
National Workshop on Development of national strategy for radioactive waste and spent fuel management
in the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, 16-21 Oct. 2016, Dhaka, Bangladesh
)

2. International Atomic Energy Agency

3. International Atomic Energy Agency
Transition from a non-nuclear to a Nuclear Power
programme
Several new challenges:
• Handling a more complex inventory (type and volume)
• Legal / regulatory development
• New infrastructure (facilities, technologies, technical
• supports)
• New and more complex tasks (clear allocation of
• responsibilities)
• Complex management system
• New competencies (knowledge, experience)
• New funding mechanism (other than direct government financing)
NEED A HOLISTIC AND INTEGRATED APPROACH!
Management of all types of waste`cradle – to – grave`

4. International Atomic Energy Agency
ROADMAP: National Policy and Strategy
Transparent, unambiguous and coherent plan
not like this
Purpose to understand the issues of SNF and RW management to
make proper planning and become a knowledgeable customer!
At an early stage questios should be put:
• What types of SNF and RW?
• What facilities will be needed and when?
• What can be done nationally and possibilities for cooperation with other countries

5. International Atomic Energy Agency
Collection, segregation, characterisation,treatment, source conditioning
and storage at Centralized RWM and Storage Facility (CWPSF)
RWM scheme today in Bangladesh
TRIGA Mark II RR
Teletherapy heads
Gamma Irradiator
RI Production Facility
Disposal (not exists)

6. International Atomic Energy Agency
RW from the NPP in Bangladesh
• Operational waste
• Miscellaneous solid waste
• Evaporator concentrates
• Ion exchange resins
• Sludge
• Decommissioning waste
6
disposal

7. International Atomic Energy Agency
Interim
storage of
long-lived
waste
Disposal of
institutional
L/ILW
Future RWM scheme in Bangladesh
7
Disposal of
operational and
decommissioning
L/ILW
Final disposal of
operational and
decommissioning
HLW
Interim
storage of SNF
Backshipment
Disposal of HLW and
long-lived waste
Backshipment

8. International Atomic Energy Agency
Schedule of the new (National) Program
Interdependencies
Operation
Guarded
supervision (20 ys)
Dismantling
Extension
Operation
Shut
down
Preparation
Survaillance and
maintanance
Dismantling
Removal
of SNF
ClosureClosure
Extension
Operation Operation
2011 2013 2030 2038 2055 2064 2084
Survaillance and
maintanance
Monitoring
Site
selection
URL
constr. URL operation
DGR
constr. DGR operation

9. International Atomic Energy Agency
Technologies required for pre-disposal management
of RW, in general are mature and demonstrated as
safe and robust.
Most of the pre-disposal technology will be supplied by the
vendor of NPP.
Mature technologies are available (1)
Predisposal

10. IAEA
Mature technologies are available (2)
Disposal of LILW
LLW disposal examples
Near-surface disposal facilities (trench, vault)
Geological disposal facilities
For LLW and ILW
Ezeiza, Argentina Vaalputs, South Africa
Wolsong, KoreaWIPP, USA
Richland, USA Rokkasho, Japan
EL-Cabril Spain
SFR, Sweden
Bátaapáti, HungaryLoviisa, Finland
Mochovce, Slovakia
Morsleben, Germany
Centre de l’Aube
, France
China

11. IAEA
Mature technologies are available (3)
SNF storage
Spent fuel storage facilities operating successfully worldwide

12. IAEA
For SF, HLW, ILW-LL the only long term solution is
deep geological (DG) disposal.
Spent fuel in copper
canister
Vitrified HLW in
stainless steel canister
Disposal of spent fuel (SNF) and high level waste
(HLW)

13. International Atomic Energy Agency
• Borehole facilities offer safe,
simple, economic alternative for all
DSRS
• No decrease in safety standards
• Small footprint
• Broad range of suitable (safe) site
properties
• Safe implementation with limited
resources
Disposal of DSRS is an issue in many
countries, often with limited infrastructure and
resources.
Disposal of disused sealed radioactive sources
(DSRS)
Sources conditioned in capsules and
containers

14. International Atomic Energy Agency
Human resources and capacity building
• Properly trained and competent workforce required to operate
waste management facilities.
• Regulatory body to employ knowledgeable staff.
• Assessment of staff numbers and levels of competence required
for implementation of the chosen technical option.
• Training of existing staff required where competence levels are
insufficient.
For capacity building: start using IAEA e-learning materials for training purposes

15. International Atomic Energy Agency
One of the greater challenges is gaining and
maintaining societal acceptance
Acceptability is almost entirely concerned
with the Process
• clarity of goals, objectives, uncertainties, impacts
• transparency of process, information and findings
• involvement of concerned parties from the outset
• empowerment of key parties in decision process
• staging, in easy steps
Satisfying social and political acceptability

16. International Atomic Energy Agency
Resourcing RWM program
16
decom.
HLW
L/ILW
ISFS
other
RWM program must be adequately
resourced.
• The availability of dedicated fund (a reliable
funding mechanism) is of paramount
importance for the effective implementation
of the RWM system.
• Government involvement inevitable due to
long term nature of RWM

17. International Atomic Energy Agency
System of the Payments
2030
2025
2020
2084: end of the National
Plan activities EMPTY
Yearly expenditures from the FUND for financing the
implementation of the National Plan
Payments of the NPP
till end of operation
Payments of the
budget till end of
operation
FUND

18. International Atomic Energy Agency
International cooperation
IDN
International Decomm.
DISPONET
Disposal of LLRW
URF
ENVIRONET
Environmental remediation
LABONET
Engage internationally and use the experience from other
countries.
Assistance can be provided by experienced countries but
important to do the planning yourself !
IAEA Networks on RW / SNF management
to increase efficiency in sharing international experience in the application of
proven practices

19. International Atomic Energy Agency19 19
Conclusions (1)
• RWM / SNF infrastructure is a necessary part of the
nuclear infrastructure
Establishing RWM infrastructure = formulation,
endorsement and implementation of RWM Policy & Strategy
• Building NPP infrastructure 10-15 yr
• Building RWM infrastructure 20-65 yr
Establishing RWM infrastructure (if not existing) shall be
initiated early with NPP project to prevent delays in its
deployment
The introduction of a nuclear program entails attention to many
complex and interrelated issues and involves a 100+ y commitment.

20. International Atomic Energy Agency
Conclusions (2)
• It is important to have a good knowledge of the full
management scheme (cradle to grave) for RW and SNF at all
decision steps of the management of RW and SF
• For each decision you need to ask the question:
• How will the decision influence the next steps ?
• Is the decision compatible with the present strategy or will the strategy
have to change ?
• What will be the consequences of changing boundary conditions?
• Cost is an important evaluation factor, but political factors
tend to dominate.

21. International Atomic Energy Agency
International Atomic Energy Agency
Thank you!