Some aspects of the Russian nuclear fuel cycle development

The existing in the Russian Federation scheme for handling SNF from power reactors, research and transportation units allows safe storage and partial reprocessing of irradiated fuel. The present report illustrates the role of enterprises affiliated to Minatom's Department of Nuclear Fuel Cycle: The RT-1 complex of the 'Mayak' Production Association carries out radiochemical reprocessing of SNF from WWER-440 reactors in Russia and Ukraine, BN-600 reactor, SNF from research reactors and nuclear power plants of sea vessels; The Mining and Chemical Complex carries out centralized intermediate storage of SNF from WWER-1000 reactors in Russia and Ukraine; some SNF from WWER-1000 and RMBK-1000 is currently stored in water medium in on-site pools. Therefore we could state that the Russian Federation has actually implemented two nuclear fuel cycles for different types of reactors: Closed nuclear fuel cycle for SNF from WWER-440, BN-600, research reactors and ship's nuclear power plants - the cycle includes radiochemical reprocessing of fuel and partial use of the recovered products (uranium, plutonium and other nuclides) and different techniques for waste treatment and storage; Deferred nuclear fuel cycle for SNF from WWER-1000, RBMK-1000 and some other activities. The annual volume of SNF unloaded from a single NPP unit and cumulative volume of SNF generated by Russian NPP's. It is clear that the total volume of SNF generated in the Russian Federation is relatively small (below 10% of the world SNF). The capacity of the existing repositories for SNF from WWER-1000 will be sufficient for 6 to 8 years, and the capacity of the repositories for SNF from RBMK will be exhausted in 3 to 5 years. Some fuel from research reactors and criticality test beds is located on site of large Russian nuclear centers, e.g. Research Institute of Nuclear Reactors (NIIAR), Physics Energy Institute (FEI) and Kurchatov Institute. Creation of a dry repository at the Mining and Chemical Complex Russian planning and design organizations prepared a design of SNF repository in 2002. Today the project documentation is at the stage of approval and expertise. Construction of Stage 1 will start when the supervisory bodies finish the project expertise and issue a license for construction. Commissioning of Stage 1 is expected in 2005-2006 together with auxiliary structures and buildings, heat supply network and railroads. During construction of Stage 1 it is planned to strengthen physical protection of the repository, modernize the SNFrastructure (railroads and motorways, power supply, etc.) and launch production of transportation means for delivery of SNF from RBMK-1000 at the NPP. The investor in the repository construction is Rosenergoatom Concern responsible for operation of all NPP's in the Russian Federation. With the total cost of the repository of ∼12.5 billion rubles, the Concern's investment in construction will amount to about 950 million rubles (over US$ 30 million). The design capacity of the repository is slightly above the requirements of the Russian NPP's (up to 38 000 tons of SNF) that would allow in perspective to offer the interested foreign partners services related to SNF storage at the Mining and Chemical Complex. The above-described activities are supported by the Government of the Russian Federation and included in the Federal Target Program 'Energy Effective Economy' that envisages a framework for the Government support of investment projects, particularly R and D. As a rule, construction of new facilities is financed by profits of enterprises or target assignments incorporated in product price