Management of nuclear waste in Spain

The responsibility for radioactive waste management in Spain was assigned to the Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos SA (ENRESA) in 1984. The volume of waste to be managed has been estimated in the first 'Plan General de Residuos Radiactivos' (PGRR) submitted; it amounted to 276,000 m3 of LLW and ILW, 6000 t U of spent fuel and 90 m3 of vitrified waste originating from the reprocessing of Vandellos I graphite-gas fuel in France. The general line of action and the strategies foreseen for the management of these wastes are: (1) final storage at El Cabril (Cordoba) of LLW and ILW consist of shallow burial concrete facilities; (2) an increase in the temporary storage capacity for spent fuel, until final storage facilities are available; (3) selection of sites for final disposal of spent fuel and HLW in deep geological formations (salt, granite and clay); (4) an experimental underground pilot facility (IPES) in granite, to be constructed in Spain in collaboration with the European Economic Community; (5) dismantling of nuclear installations, decommissioning of the old Andujar (Jaen) uranium mill, including dismantling of the installations and the remedial actions necessary to stabilize the uranium tailings in dykes; (6) establishment of an R and D programme; (7) international co-operation; (8) financing of ENRESA's activities. Financing can be divided into: (a) the total estimated cost of radioactive waste management: Ptas. 750,000 million (1986), i.e. US $5,750 million (1986); (b) the cost of waste management, which is totally supported by the waste producers; (c) the financing of reactor waste management by levying a percentage of the total electricity generated. (d) billings for services rendered to other waste producers, based on unit rates; (e) the percentage and rates, which are approved by the government on a yearly basis. 1 tab