Cost estimation method for decommissioning of nuclear facilities

Japanese Government decided that Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute (JAERI) and Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (JNC) shall be consolidated to a New Organization as of October 2005, which organization would be an institute for comprehensive research and development for atomic energy. Through the preparation for unification, JAERI and JNC have been developing the decommissioning program for own facilities, estimating decommissioning cost and the amount of waste from the decommissioning, and developing management program. With planning the decommissioning program, it is important to estimate decommissioning cost effectively, because JAERI and JNC retain approximate 230 nuclear facilities which are reactors, fuel cycle and research facilities. Then a decommissioning cost estimation method has been developed based on several dismantling and replacement experiences. This method adopted more estimation formulae for decommissioning various works than ever, so as to be more reliable. And decommissioning cost for the facilities has been estimated under the common condition. This method should be improved, reflecting future nuclear facilities dismantling and replacement events. This paper shows the cost estimation method for nuclear facilities and the cost evaluation result for approximate 230 facilities of both JAERI and JNC. (author)