Disposal of the Fresh and Irradiated Nuclear Material of the Rossendorf Research Nuclear Facilities

A 10 MW research reactor, two zero power reactors as well as nuclear fuel research facilities have been operated from 1957 to 1991 at the Rossendorf Research Site next to Dresden, Germany. The deployed nuclear fuel originated exclusively from Russia. When in the beginning of the 90s it was decided to shut down and decommission all nuclear facilities at Rossendorf, considerable amounts of fissile material were at the Site (mainly 'fresh' fuel: approx. 500 kgs HEU and approx. 700 kgs LEU; and irradiated fuel: approx. 164 kgs HEU and approx. 186 kgs LEU). The VKTA-conception for clearing the Rossendorf Research Site from nuclear material defines priorities and the ways of disposal. For the nuclear material in form of fuel elements, the Russian Research Reactor Fuel Return Program (RRRFR Program) has been of extraordinary importance for the return of this fuel back to the Russian Federation. For other kinds of nuclear material like liquids or powder, separate management projects were developed. A short overview about the disposal activities and the results is following. (author)