Design of a Near Surface Disposal Facility for Low and Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste in Zaria, Nigeria

Near surface disposal facility with the capacity for receiving, treating, managing and disposing about 500 waste containers of low and intermediate level radioactive waste was designed. The facility is designed to have the administrative area, operational area and the final disposal trench. The design is intended to manage low level waste currently generated in Nigeria from the use of nuclear applications i.e. Medical, Industrial, nuclear well logging, research and training, it's also designed to efficiently handle intermediate level waste expected to be generated from the expansion of nuclear technology in Nigeria, and the proposed Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). The final disposal trench is sectioned to provide for future waste disposal, in such a way that until a section is fully occupied and sealed before other sections are utilized. The trench is designed to be safely operated, secured from unauthorized access to prevent been used for malicious intent and to meet Nigerians safeguards obligations. The trench is shielded to attenuate gamma and low neutron with mathematically determined concrete thickness of 1.4meters for surface shield. With these shield the background radiation within the trench would not exceed 0.3 mSv/yr cumulatively when operational. The cost estimate for the trench was determined to cost N24,103, 900.00. (author)