Decommissioning strategy in the Russian Federation

In the period up to 2020, 28 units with the total capacity of 20242 MWe are expected to be decommissioned in Russia due to expiration of the specified lifetime of NPPs. The main types of reactors operated in Russia were of RBMK and WWER type. The shutdown units are the first ones to be decommissioned and the decommissioning experience will be used to master the methods and principles to be used in decommissioning of the subsequent units. Decommissioning being a long and complex process, preparation for it is made at all stages of the NPP unit life cycle. In accordance with regulatory body requirements the operators must fulfill a feasibility study of unit discontinuance options five years before its scheduled shutdown that should be approved by supervisory and regulatory bodies. Important issues in the process that demand special attention are radioactive wastes management; socio-economic aspects of NPP decommissioning and related scientific provisions. Activities carried out up to present related to shut-down of NPP units Beloyarskaya and Novovoronezh are described