Decommissioning and dismantling of nuclear and fuel cycle facilitites in Spain

In the recent past, and as a consequence of a fire in the turbine island of the Vandellos I Graphite Gas type Nuclear Plant, which damaged the facility to a point that recovery was not judged economically feasible, the authorities decided on the final shutdown of the plant. Several studies were performed in order to select the dismantling strategy to be adopted. In spite of Valdellos I being the first commercial reactor to be decommissioned in Spain, several research reactors and fuel cycle facilities, which have reached the end of their commercial lives, are at present at different stages of their dismantling and decommissioning process as is described further. The development of an exemption policy for below regulatory concern wastes is considered a very significant issue regarding decommissioning as it has a large impact on radioactive waste volumes, and thus on costs. Aware of this problem ENRESA together with Spanish regulatory authorities are working in close cooperation with CEC research programs to complete the development of criteria and methodologies for the application of exemption practices in Spain