NUKEM Technologies GmbH, Alzenau, has been tasked with turn-key design and supply of processing facilities for a new waste treatment centre to be constructed at Kursk NPP in Russia. This project is NUKEM’s contribution to safe and environmentally-friendly disposal of radioactive waste currently stored and still to be generated at Kursk NPP. NUKEM will be subcontracted by Russian NIKIMT-Atomstroy, the successful bidder in an open tender for turn-key construction of the waste treatment centre.
This waste treatment centre will be designed to process all low and intermediate level solid waste as well as ion-exchange resins generated at Kursk NPP. State-of-the-art techniques will be utilized for decontamination of metal waste to release most of the material for unrestricted reuse. The remaining waste volume will be reduced using thermal and mechanical techniques, and then conditioned into a form suitable for final disposal. The engineering concept proposed by NUKEM for waste processing is based on proven technologies.
During the initial project phase, NUKEM will be responsible for preparation of the process engineering portion of the project design package to be submitted to regulatory authorities for approval. During subsequent project phases, NUKEM is to develop detailed design, supply the components and provide supervision during on-site installation and commissioning. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2015.
NUKEM enjoys a significant share of the radioactive waste management market in Eastern Europe. NUKEM’s references include, among others, waste treatment centres at Bohunice NPP (Slovakia), Balakovo and Leningrad NPP (Russia), and Chernobyl NPP (Ukraine). At present, NUKEM is in the process of constructing a waste treatment centre on a turn-key basis at Ignalina NPP, Lithuania.
