The dismantling of a nuclear installation means not only the final adoption of the exploitation but also the destruction of the buildings and the evacuation of the radioactive waste. Contrary to a déconstruction, dismantling includes/understands the destruction of all the components, including the Nuclear reactors.

The dismantling of an engine is done in 3 stages:

  • the shut-down final (MAD): unloading of fuel of the heart of the engine and its storage during 2 years in swimming pool of " désactivation" combustible building.
  • partial dismantling : déconstruction of all the buildings outside the building sheltering the engine.
  • total dismantling : dismantling of the building engine.

Currently, the duration of the dismantling of a nuclear plant is estimated at 30 years between the reactor shut down and the handing-over of the site in an initial state.

Description

The materials and equipment of the nuclear reactors are dimensioned for a certain lifespan. Whereas some can be replaced during the periodic stoppings of the engines (known as " stop of tranche"), others cannot it (ex: box, reactor vessel…).

The dismantling of an engine is done in 3 stages:

  • Level I: shut down final (MAD): unloading of fuel of the heart of the engine and its storage during 2 years in swimming pool of " désactivation" combustible building, that includes/understands:

    • discharge of nuclear fuel
    • the draining of the circuits

  • Level II: partial dismantling : déconstruction of all the buildings outside the building sheltering the engine, that includes/understands:

    • the decontamination and déconstruction of all the buildings outside the building sheltering the nuclear reactor,
    • the containment of the building of the nuclear reactor

  • Level III: total dismantling : dismantling of the building engine, that includes/understands:

    • the dismantling of the heat exchangers
    • the dismantling of the reactor block
    • destruction of the building of the nuclear reactor

Cost of a dismantling

With the the United States (104 engines), Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) evaluates the cost of dismantling to 300 million dollars per nuclear plant.

In France (58 engines), the costs of dismantling of the power stations of the park REFERENCE MARK was the subject of an estimate in 1991 by the Ministry for Industry, to a total value of 15% of the capital cost Net (except interim interest). This estimate is used as a basis for the constitution of the provisions for dismantling over the lifespan of the equipment concerned. To the 31.12.2005 this provision rose to 13.1 billion euros. These provisions are liabilities which do not guarantee by themselves the availability of the corresponding funds. At this fine EDF constitutes dedicated funds. Nuclear engagements are the supervision object by the Follow-up committee of nuclear engagements, attached to the board of directors of the company.

At the end of 2003, the Court of Auditors evaluated the funds indeed available to 2,3 billion euros. The estimate of the Court of Auditors for the dismantling of the French nuclear park was a fork from 20 to 39 billion euros 2003, sums coherent with the mode of estimate retained by EDF and the residual lifespan of the power stations, but different from the estimates of the United Kingdom.

EDF had provided that the dismantling of only the central of Brennilis, initiated in 1999 and who was to last until 2018) would cost approximately 500 million euros.
Un first decree of 1996 authorized the dismantling of the peripheral parts to the engine (less radioactive) and a new decree (February 9th, 2006) authorized dismantling, more delicate, of the building of the engine. But this decree was cancelled by the Council of State on June 5th, 2007, for defect of presentation of the public survey within the prescribed times (It belonged to the government “all to implement” so that the 700.000 inhabitants of the 50 km neighborhood can consult the impact study”).

The site of Brennilis must be used as test, but is only one power station of first generation (only example in France of the die with heavy Eau); of 70 MW, whereas next dismantlings relate to engines of 900 MW and more. Except the power stations, various experimental reactors and civil or military nuclear industrial sites will be also to dismantle. The first of big size to being dismantled in France is the Usine of extraction of the plutonium of Marcoule (UP1), at an estimated cost of 5,6 billion euros (more than 10 times superior with that of Brennilis).

Diverses ONG gathered within the Sortir network the nuclear power reproaches at EDF for having underestimated the costs of dismantling which would amount in hundreds of billion Euros and not of tens of billion like announced it EDF; Great Britain envisages 103 billion Euros for the dismantling of its park, which is much less important than that of France.

With the the United Kingdom (35 engines), the dismantling of the engine of Windscale of a power of 32 MW cost 117 million euros. The government announced, on Thursday, March 30, 2006, its decision to entrust to the private sector dismantling its nuclear plants, at a cost estimated at 103 billion euros.

In Germany (36 engines), the power station of Niederaichbach, a heavy-water reactor of a power of 100 MW, was stopped after 18 months of tests. It was completely dismantled at a cost of approximately 90 million euros. The dismantling of the 5 sections of 440 MW of the site of Greifswald is evaluated with more than 4 billion euros over 20 years.

In Sweden (11 engines), one evaluates the dismantling of the nuclear park with approximately 19 to 41 billion euros.

Dismantling in France

In France, the dismantling of nuclear installations is with the test on the nuclear plant of Brennilis in Brittany, and on the Usine of extraction of the plutonium of Marcoule (UP1) in the Gard.

Other nuclear reactors are definitively stopped in 2006:

See the List of the nuclear reactors in France

References

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