The Foratom Transport Working Group

Abstract

Based in Brussels, the European atomic forum FORATOM is the trade association of the European nuclear industry which was established in the early 1960s to promote nuclear power and to facilitate relations with the European institutions. One of the main mechanisms which FORATOM uses, in its dealings with the European Commission and other international organisations, is the involvement of several working groups bringing together groups of experts drawn from the industrial companies in order to identify the issues and to develop the widest possible common views on which the industry must express its representative, substantial and deliverable opinion. The Transport Working Group (TWG) has the objective of dealing with transport of radioactive material, especially nuclear materials. The TWG usually meets three times a year in Brussels or another selected location. It has strong links with the European Commission which are evidenced by the fact that it officially represents the European nuclear industry, with the status of observer, at the meetings of the Standing Working Group on Safe Transport of Radioactive Material which was set up in 1982, upon a request of the European Parliament, to advise the European Commission in the field of safe transport of radioactive materials. The Standing Working Group (SWG) assists the European Union's Member States in the revision process of IAEA recommendations and helps a correct and harmonious application of these recommendations within the European Union. In previous years, the Standing Working Group has proposed over 40 different studies, fmanced by the European Commission, on important transport issues. The FORATOM TWG encourages its member organisations to participate in studies proposed by the Commission and has been cooperating for many years with the Commission in the field of many studies aimed to improve the application of transport regulations. The need to maintain the safe and reliable operation of plants that generate 35% of the electricity in western Europe is taking on growing importance at a time when it is becoming clear that nuclear power has definite advantages in terms of economics, security of supply and environment protection. The prospect of new countries joining the European Union in the foreseeable future is also enhancing these concerns. Transport is an essential link in the nuclear industry and safe transport of radioactive material is a major issue because any disruption of transport has serious consequences for the management of the power generation. The challenges are double, on the one hand to maintain the economic and safe operation of nuclear transport, on the other to ensure that the community and its leaders fully appreciate the contribution of the industry in this field. Both are part of the tasks of the FORATOM Transport Working Group.     

Working plan for decommissioning of the Lovisa Atomic Power Plant

Conclusion The option with dismantling of radioactive parts immediately after completion of power operation was adopted for the decommissioning of the Lovisa Atomic Power Plant. If the engineering life of the power units is 30 yr, the decommissioning of the first power unit will begin in 2008 and that of the second power unit in 2012. The entire period of decommissioning of the atomic power plant from the time of shutdown of the first power unit until the burial facilities are sealed and license obligations are discharged will last more than 12 yr.Careful analyses showed that the dismantling of radioactive parts of the power units is possible through the use of methods that have already been developed.According to estimates and calculations, decommissioning operations for the power units of the atomic power plant will require approximately 3000 man-yr.Waste from dismantling can be buried safely in facilities built in the bedrock at the plant site. The irradiation doses to the public due to the burial of such waste remain low.The collective irradiation dose to personnel engaged in dismantling is estimated to be 23 man-Sv.The costs for decommissioning the power units of the atomic power plant, as calculated from the data compiled, are 800 million Finnish marks.Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 67, No. 2, pp. 83–88, August, 1989.     

核电工程数据库系统的开发设计探讨

本文对核电工程数据库系统开发设计方面的问题进行了有益的探讨，并结合核工业总公司当前核电建设的实际需要，提出了一些具体的建设性意见，这对各成员单位的建库工作将有一定的协调、促进作用。     

核电工程数据库工作的几点思考

针对核电工程数据库工作，根据几年来的工作体会，在建立核电数据资源法制管理渠道，规划实施中的问题，提高管理人员素质等方面，发表了看法和意见。