The representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Estonian Radiation Protection Centre and AS Alara decided to convene a working group whose task will be to draw up a proposal as to which strategic approach should be applied with respect to the Paldiski nuclear facility. The working group, which will be comprised of representatives of the Ministry of Environment, Estonian Radiation Protection Centre and AS Alara, will consider the dismantling alternatives presented in the final report of the relevant project carried out in co-operation with the European Commission. According to Henno Putnik, Director of AS Alara, the final report proposed two possible strategic approaches. The first option is to maintain the reactors whole (as they are now, enclosed in sarcophagi located in the facility's main building) and to bury them into a repository to be constructed in the territory of the facility. In this case, as each reactor weighs ca 1000 tonnes, it would be necessary to construct also a special railway branch line of a high loadbearing capacity. The other option is to dismantle the reactors, ensuring radiation safety of workers. For storing in the final repository, the systems of the reactors would then be either broken down into major components or attempts would be made to minimise the volume of radioactive waste disposed. As the latter option would require large-scale deactivation and shearing works, it would eventually not be economically justified. It is hoped that the working group will prepare the proposal in a short time and a project application can be submitted to the European Commission as soon as possible. Additional information: Henno Putnik, Director of AS Alara, tel.: 620 1904, 050-45126 |
