Nuclear Environment Corporation, Transfers 28 Drums of RI Waste from Daejeon to Gyeongju

In 2018, radioactive waste was being transported from the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute to the Gyeongju disposal site. Provided by Daejeon City

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Daejeon City announced on the 19th that 28 drums (5,683ℓ) of sealed RI waste stored at the Daejeon Radioisotope (hereafter RI) management facility have been transported to the Gyeongju low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility.

The RI waste was transported early that morning, and the city ensured safety by having responsible officials attend the pre-transport inspection conducted the previous day by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission.

The transported RI waste is part of the 141 drums planned for transport this year (first phase), and the remaining 113 drums are scheduled to be fully transported in four rounds by the end of December this year.

Previously, the transport of RI waste was suspended from January last year due to errors in radioactive waste nuclide analysis by the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute. Regarding this, the city emphasized the significance of resuming transport after about a year, even if the quantity is not large.

Meanwhile, the city has been negotiating with the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency in Gyeongju, and others to resume transport and increase the volume of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste stored at nuclear facilities within the city.

Heo Tae-jeong, Mayor of Daejeon, stated, “I hope that the transport of RI waste by the Korea Radioactive Waste Agency will serve as a signal to open the way for the removal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste temporarily stored in the Daejeon area, including the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute,” adding, “Taking this opportunity, the city will do its best to alleviate citizens’ concerns to some extent.”