"High-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility Must Be Built by 2050"... Academia Urges Enactment of Special Act

The Nuclear Society: "Urgent Need to Secure a Disposal Site for Spent Nuclear Fuel"

Radioactive waste stored in the interim storage building within the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal facility located in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk.
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Lee Junhyung] The nuclear power academic community has urged the enactment of a special law, emphasizing the urgent need to secure a radioactive waste disposal facility (radwaste facility) for spent nuclear fuel.

On the 29th, the Korean Nuclear Society issued a statement declaring that the enactment of a special law to secure a disposal site for spent nuclear fuel is urgent. The Nuclear Society stated, "The spent nuclear fuel disposal site is not an issue limited to the nuclear power industry," adding, "It is a national facility essential for achieving sustainable carbon neutrality." Furthermore, it said, "The technology for constructing and operating radwaste facilities is also a promising export technology," and urged, "Please enact a special law for the safe disposal of spent nuclear fuel during this regular National Assembly session."

The Nuclear Society requested that three opinions be reflected in the special law on high-level radwaste facilities. First, the Nuclear Society holds the position that the operation start date of the high-level radwaste facility should be moved forward to 2050, which is 10 years earlier than the government's planned operation date (2060). The Society stated, "Considering the level of research in our country, if an underground research facility is promptly established, the spent nuclear fuel disposal site can be operated by 2050," and added, "The European Union (EU) taxonomy also requires the operation of spent nuclear fuel disposal sites by 2050."

Additionally, the Nuclear Society emphasized a "scientific and transparent procedure." It said, "The entire process of selecting the disposal site must be based on scientific analysis of site suitability and transparent procedures," and "Compensation and support for the regions hosting the disposal site should also be presented fairly and transparently during the site selection process."

The need for technological development to improve disposal efficiency was also mentioned. The Nuclear Society pointed out, "To optimize the cost and scale of spent nuclear fuel disposal, high-efficiency disposal methods that increase disposal density are necessary," and added, "Technologies that enable more efficient disposal should be developed and utilized in securing and constructing disposal sites."

The Nuclear Society stated, "It would take tens of thousands of years for radioactive materials to penetrate the multiple barriers used in spent nuclear fuel disposal and reach the ecosystem," but "the climate change crisis will occur within this century at the latest." It continued, "The spent nuclear fuel disposal site is a facility for future generations facing the climate crisis," and urged, "Considering safety and future generations, regardless of support or opposition to nuclear power, please support securing a spent nuclear fuel disposal site."