Best practices for strategic nuclear plant decommissioning

摘要

Decommissioning and decontamination needs have risen globally due to recent decisions by some countries to phase out nuclear power, the natural life cycle of plants, and plant closures based on economic factors. This has been most significantly realized in Europe, with about 90 reactors being shut down for various reasons (e.g., damage, political or economic decision). In North America, the number of plant shutdowns is growing, with approximately 8 percent of the operating U.S. commercial fleet— based on 104 reactors in 2012—shutting down between 2013 and 2019, and approximately 13 percent of those remaining in operation slated to retire by 2025. In Canada, 10—approximately half—of the reactors will be shut down by 2025. The trend extends to Asia as well, in Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.