Redevelopment of nuclear facilities after decommissioning

Being aware of reuse options for decommissioned sites is an important aspect of the decommissioning process. Early planning for site reuse can facilitate the transition from operation to decommissioning, possibly reduce the financial burden associated with decommissioning, re-employ workers and specialist staff, and alleviate the overall impact of decommissioning on the local community. Conversely, the lack of early planning for site reuse after completion of the decommissioning process can become a hindrance to implementing decommissioning in a cost effective and optimized manner. This strategic inadequacy may be caused by insufficient knowledge of experience with redevelopment opportunities that were exploited successfully in industries elsewhere. This report provides an overview of decommissioning projects implemented worldwide with reuse of the decommissioned sites for new purposes after delicensing. Lessons learned from these projects and practical guidance on factors creating reuse opportunities are highlighted. Operators of nuclear facilities, decision makers at government level, regulators/authorities and elected officials at all levels, environmental planners and the general public are all important stakeholders in the site redevelopment process. The subject area addressed in this report has not previously been addressed in IAEA publications on decommissioning except in only a marginal fashion. This report is intended to contribute to the systematic coverage of the entire range of decommissioning aspects within the IAEA's decommissioning programme