Site selection for spent fuel final disposal. A key issue in the development of nuclear power in Romania

Majority of the countries owning nuclear industry is not yet settled upon the option of closing the nuclear fuel cycle. At present, several projects concerning the final disposal are underway world wide while reprocessing of the entire amount of fissionable reusable materials is not foreseen. The yearly world production of the spent fuel continues to be about 10,500 to 11,000 tones of heavy metal. Difficulties related to construction of final repositories for spent fuel (Sfd) led to the construction of intermediate repositories which ensure a satisfying degree of safety for biosphere. On the other hand, regardless of alternative chosen for closing the nuclear fuel cycle a final disposal must exists for high radioactive waste resulted from spent fuel reprocessing or else for spent nuclear fuel considered as radioactive waste. The paper presents the arguments for the necessity and opportunity of the project, the nuclear safety objectives, the regulation requirements for evaluating the Sfd performances, the site selection criteria. Preliminary evaluations of the available geologic formations in Romania showed granites and green and basaltic schists as appropriate for spent fuel disposal