National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill

Presentation to the NCOP Select Committee on Economic and Foreign Affairs

October 2008

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• Background• International Practice• National Radioactive Waste Disposal

Institute Bill

Outline

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• Activities Generating Radioactive waste– Electricity production– Radiopharmaceuticals production– Radioisotope Production– Decontamination and decommissioning

waste– Research and development

Background

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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…

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• 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…

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• 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…

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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…

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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

Background…

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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.

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• 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.

National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Bill: Purpose

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• 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

Control and Management

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Regulations• Bill provides for the Minister to make

regulations

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Thank you