Role of Slovakia within the IAEA Decommissioning Related Activities

Slovakia has a long-term experience with the IAEA decommissioning related activities as a recipient of Agency assistance and then as a country offering assistance to others. Background, short 'history' and current status of Slovakian national technical cooperation (TC) projects SLR/4/008 'Robotic Technologies for Decontamination and Decommissioning of the Bohunice A1 NPP' and SLR/3/002 'Management of Radioactive Waste from the A1 Nuclear Power Plant Decommissioning' will be described in paper. The first TC project SLR/4/008 was solved by the main Slovakian counterpart, company VUJE, Inc., from 2001 to 2006. Second TC project SLR/3/002 is ongoing with extension to 2011. Thanks to the implementation of a long-term large-scale 'Project of the A1 NPP Decommissioning - Stage I' (1996-2007), financed by Slovak National Nuclear Account (decommissioning fund), as well as implementation of the IAEA TC national projects a comprehensive know-how in the field of D and D and RAW management was obtained. Moreover, technologies and facilities necessary for implementation of decommissioning and RAW management projects were developed. Thanks to this development Slovakia offers donor assistance to other countries in subjected fields through IAEA TC program. The type and scope of assistance for Armenia, Bulgaria, Egypt, Latvia, Lithuania and The Ukraine is described in the paper. The above-mentioned national projects are not only activities of Slovakia within the IAEA TC program. Regional TC project RER/3/005 'Support in Planning the Decommissioning of Nuclear Power Plants and Research Reactors' has been ongoing from 2007 with accepted extension to 2011. About nine countries from Eastern and Central Europe participate in the project (for the NPPs part) and Slovakia plays the role of LCC (Leading Country Coordinator). On the basis of suggestion of Nuclear Regulatory Authority of the Slovak Republic, VUJE is the coordinator of the regional project. Moreover, Slovakia would be the recipient of services as well as the provider of expert's support. The paper explains that this RER project represents an important part of International Decommissioning Network, which was established by the IAEA to bring together existing decommissioning initiatives both inside and outside the IAEA to enhance cooperation and coordination. Slovakia is a member of the IDN Steering committee and besides the overall planning of network activities proposes also hosting of several IDN events in the near future. Lessons learned by Slovakia, as the IAEA member country 'in transition', will be summarized in conclusion. Slovakia is a good example of a small country with a relatively comprehensive decommissioning program that was able to utilize effectively the Agency TC support, in combination with its own activities, for increasing of skills of personnel and improvement of technical equipment. The country was/is the recipient of the IAEA assistance but is also able to offer and implement donor assistance to other countries. More significant involvement in the International Decommissioning Network activities will be proposed during the next IAEA planning period (2009-2011). (authors)