210 likes | 375 Views
National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill. Presentation to the NCOP Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs October 2008. Outline. Background International Practice National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill. Background. Activities Generating Radioactive waste
E N D
National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill Presentation to the NCOP Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs October 2008
Outline • Background • International Practice • National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill
Background • Activities Generating Radioactive waste • Electricity production • Radiopharmaceuticals production • Radioisotope Production • Decontamination and decommissioning waste • Research and development
Background… Status of Radioactive waste in RSA • Spent Fuel (HLW) – Generated At Koeberg and at SAFARI-1 at NECSA • Koeberg Spent fuel - about 95% of total spent fuel inventory • Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) from Koeberg disposed at Vaalputs • LILW from NECSA still on the Pelindaba site
Background… • White Paper on Energy Policy 1998 • Develop a radioactive waste management policy • Current governance and management framework • Nuclear Energy Act: Authority over Management of Radioactive Waste and Storage of irradiated fuel vests in the Minister • Regulations made in consultation with Ministers – Environmental Affairs & Tourism and Water Affairs & Forestry
Background… • Current Governance and Management Framework • Eskom manages own waste, LILW to Vaalputs • Necsa manages own & waste from small operators as well, all currently on-site • The National Nuclear Regulator issue nuclear authorisations and implements compliance programmes • RSA acceded to the IAEA Joint Convention in 2006
Background… Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy, 2005 • Lasting Long-Term solution to radioactive waste • Safe Management • Adequate Provision for radioactive waste management • Institutional Framework
Background… Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy mandated formation of: • National Committee on Radioactive Waste Management (NCRWM) • members: DEAT, DWAF, Health & NNR. • National Radioactive Waste Management Agency through statute (Now called Disposal Institute) • Radioactive Waste Management Fund (RWMF) through statute
International Best Practice • International Best Practice in the nuclear sector to have an Independent (of Generators of waste) Institute managing the disposal of Radioactive Waste • Generators of Radioactive Waste Should not be entrusted the duty of also managing waste disposal • An separate Institute frees the generators of waste to concentrate on their core mandate. • Countries that have independent agencies include France, Spain, Hungary, Canada, Japan, Belgium etc.
National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill: Purpose • Establish the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute. • Institute will be responsible for Management of Radioactive Waste Disposal on a national basis, on behalf of the Minister. • The Institute will be wholly owned by the State.
Control and Management • Controlled by a Board of Directors • On the Board: DME, DEAT, DWAF, Health (+ no more than 5 other directors) • Chief Executive Officer • Chief Financial Officer
Functions of the Institute • Meet institutional Obligations of the Minister related to management of Radioactive Waste as provided for by the Nuclear Energy Act • Design and implement Disposal Solutions • Develop Radioactive Waste Acceptance and Disposal criteria • Assess and inspect the acceptability of waste for disposal and to issue disposal certificate • Manage, Operate and Monitor operational disposal Facilities • Manage and Monitor Closed disposal facilities
Functions of the Institute… • Investigate the need for any new disposal facilities • Site, design and construct new facilities as required • Define and conduct research and development aimed at long term radioactive waste management • Maintain a national radioactive waste database • Manage any Ownerless radioactive waste on behalf of the State
Functions of the Institute… • Assist generators of small quantities radioactive waste in the management of their waste • Provide information on radioactive waste management to the public living around disposal facilities and the public in general
Licensing of Institute • The Institute’s facilities will be licensed by the National Nuclear Regulator. The NNR does not dispose waste but regulate activities in the nuclear sector Financial Management • Institute will be a Schedule 3 public entity in terms of the PFMA • Institute will be allowed to accumulate surplus funds
Funds • Money appropriated by Parliament • Money transferred from the Radioactive Waste Management Fund (once established) • Money received for services rendered to waste generators (cost recovery) • Income or interest earned on cash balances • Loans raised in terms of the PFMA • Donations or contributions with the approval of the Minister
Disposal Certificate • Generators shall apply to the CEO for a waste disposal certificate • CEO may determine conditions necessary to ensure compliance with the radioactive waste acceptance criteria
Responsibilities of Generators of Radioactive waste • Technical, Financial and Administrative management of wastes at their premises and during transportation • Develop and implement site specific waste management plans based on National Policy • Provide all relevant information on Radioactive waste destined for disposal • Demonstrate compliance with conditions of disposal certificate
Assets and Liabilities • All assets, liabilities, licences, obligations and authorisations of the Vaalputs National Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility operated by NECSA will vest in the Institute • All employees of Necsa at the Vaalputs Disposal Facility will become staff members of the Institute
Regulations • Bill provides for the Minister to make regulations