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Key message
Neutral

In the 1990-2015 period, the quantity of spent nuclear fuel, which is the only type of high-level waste in Slovenia, increased by 5 % annually. As there is still no satisfactory method of waste storage, the accumulation of this waste poses a reason for concern. 


This indicator monitors the quantity of spent nuclear fuel, which provides a good estimate of the situation in the field of radioactive waste. Furthermore, it contains a projection of the production of electricity from nuclear power, as it is a rough indication of the quantity of spent nuclear fuel in the future. It also monitors the volume of intermediate and low-level waste.

The measurement unit for the quantity of spent nuclear fuel is tHM (tonnes of heavy metal). Nuclear electricity generation is calculated in terawatt hours (TWh). Low and intermediate-level waste is stated in the number of drums or other units or in terms of volume (m3).

Nuclear waste is classified as follows:
• High-level waste (HLW) – highly radioactive, generates a considerable amount of heat and long-lived radioactivity;
• Intermediate-level waste (ILW) – higher amounts of radioactivity; further classified into beta-gamma emitters (low and intermediate-level of radiotoxicity, negligible heat) and alpha emitters (intermediate-level of radiotoxicity, low heat);
• Low-level waste (LLW) – small to negligible amounts of radioactivity and, as is the case with intermediate-level waste, classified into beta-gamma emitters and alpha emitters (Agency for Radwaste Management, 2007).


Charts

Figure EN08-1: The annual quantity of spent nuclear fuel from the Nuclear Power Station Krško, increase in quantity of highly radioactive waste in spent fuel pool and the storage capacity for the period 1990-2015
Sources: 
Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (2017)
Show data

Quantity of spent nuclear fuel per year

Quantity of spent nuclear fuel in the storage pool

Storage pool capacity

1990

16.35

106.94

281.99

1991

0

106.94

281.99

1992

14.99

121.92

281.99

1993

16.35

138.27

281.99

1994

0

138.27

281.99

1995

12.26

150.53

281.99

1996

9.54

160.07

281.99

1997

9.54

169.60

281.99

1998

10.90

180.50

281.99

1999

10.90

191.40

281.99

2000

10.90

202.30

281.99

2001

12.26

214.56

281.99

2002

11.24

225.80

281.99

2003

14.99

240.78

576.93

2004

19.07

259.85

576.93

2005

0

259.85

576.93

2006

19.07

278.93

576.93

2007

18.05

296.98

576.93

2008

0

296.98

576.93

2009

19.41

316.39

576.93

2010

19.07

335.46

576.93

2011

0

335.46

576.93

2012

19.07

354.53

576.93

2013

19.41

373.95

576.93

2014

0

373.95

576.93

2015

19.07

393.02

576.93

Figure EN08-2: Stored amount of low and medium radioactive waste in Nuclear Power Station Krško's storages from electricity production in the period 1990-2015
Sources: 
Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration (2017)
Show data

Quantity of low and medium radioactive waste

1990

1706

1991

1783

1992

1914

1993

2019

1994

2078

1995

1872

1996

1971

1997

2042

1998

2074

1999

2086

2000

2154

2001

2203

2002

2208

2003

2253

2004

2289

2005

2256

2006

2258

2007

2174

2008

2189

2009

2209

2010

2211

2011

2234.10

2012

2262

2013

2250.63

2014

2258.42

2015

2264


Goals

- to ensure safe management of all nuclear waste and spent nuclear fuel in all phases of their existence;
- to provide permanent solutions for waste management (construction of the low and intermediate level radioactive waste repository, providing a long-term solution for depositing spent nuclear fuel and high-level waste).


Data for Slovenia

Source database or source: Data on spent nuclear fuel and the quantity of intermediate and low-level waste (Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration – Annual Report) and Quantity of low and intermediate level waste at the repository of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (Agency for Radwaste Management – Annual Report).
Data administrator: Slovenian Nuclear Safety Administration and Agency for Radwaste Management.
Date of acquisition for this indicator: 15 June 2017
Methodology and frequency of data collection for the indicator: Data are prepared on an annual basis.
Data processing methodology: Average annual growth is calculated using the following formula: [(last year)/(first year)]^(1 / the number of years) – 1] x 100.
Information concerning data quality:
- Advantages and disadvantages of the indicator: Data on spent nuclear fuel are reported by the Krško Nuclear Power Plant and the Jožef Stefan Institute and are of a high quality. Data on the volume of low and intermediate-level waste are of a lesser quality, as they encompass different shapes of waste.
- Relevance, accuracy, robustness, uncertainty:
Reliability of the indicator (archival data): The indicator is reliable.
Uncertainty of the indicator (scenarios/projections): Scenarios and projections are not available.
- Overall assessment (1 = no major comments, 3 = data to be considered with reservation):
Relevance: 1
Accuracy: 1
Completeness over time: 1
Completeness over space: 1

 


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