Some issues relevant to the development of the Armenian NPP decommissioning plan

摘要

In this paper, an attempt was made to describe the decommissioning options and estimate theircosts for the decision-makers selection. The preferable option that was obtained as the result of the work carried outby both the USA PNLL and the TACIS SOGIN was SAFSTOR/DECON (II). The cost of that option for the ANPPdecommissioning is also comparable with the costs of the decommissioning of other nuclear units in the countriesoperating the same type of reactors.The purpose of the development of the decommissioning plan is to identify and evaluate feasible decommissioningoptions for the Armenian NPP (ANPP). So, the purpose of this plan is both to select a preferred option, and toprovide data and information needed by decision-makers. Relevant work has been carried out since 2000 in theframe of the USA DOE and TACTS programs. The work has been implemented by foreign experts and Armenianspecialists. During program implementation, some important activities have been completed. Much more additionalinformation will be needed before final decisions can be made. During the evaluation of alternatives, specific optionswere clearly identified as being much more feasible from an economic standpoint and so some alternatives are notrecommended to be carried forward.The ANPP consists of two power units of WWER-440 (V-270 project) type of reactors having design life-time of 30years. Unit 1 of the ANPP was put into operation on 22nd December 1976, Unit 2 - on 5th January 1980. During the1988 Spitak earthquake, the power units of the ANPP remained in operation. Although all the ANPP equipment, aswell as the protection and control systems continued their stable and safe operation, the Council of Ministers of theUSSR made a decision to shut the ANPP down, and the power units were stopped in Spring of 1989 without anyappropriate decommissioning plan. In April 1993, the Government of Armenia made a decision to restart Unit 2 ofthe ANPP aiming at overcoming the energy crisis broken out after the country had gained its independence. Unit 2 ofthe ANPP was re-commissioned in November 1995 and has been in operation up to now. Unit 1 has remained in astand-still regime since its shutdown. To perform the decommissioning of both power units separately is impossiblebecause the two reactors share one reactor building.Three fundamental issues were discussed and evaluated during the development of the decommissioning plan:? Decontamination and decommissioning of the ANPP systems and structures;? Long-term management of spent nuclear fuel;? Long-term management of liquid and solid radioactive waste.