Experience at SAPHIR Research Reactor, Switzerland

The former SAPHIR research reactor has been dismantled completely without any significant difficulty. There are several factors underpinning the successful dismantling of SAPHIR: – Good housekeeping during operation and after shutdown; – Good maintenance of the infrastructure before and after shutdown; – Experienced personnel with knowledge of the reactor history; – Stable legal framework; – Close cooperation with the regulatory authority; – Excellent infrastructure of a large research centre; – Stable financing; – Stable organization, motivated personnel; – Support from skilful local companies; – Waste conditioning and treatment routes on-site and approved by the regulatory authority