Potential SG equipment infrastructure for the Geological Repository in Finland

Abstract

Responding to the need for establishing an effective safeguards approach for the future Geological Repository (GR) in Finland, and implementing its measures and techniques identified in line with safeguards-by-design concept, the European Commission (EC), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) are jointly working on the Equipment Infrastructure Requirements Specification for the GR. The identification of possible safeguards measures is carried out in such a way as to allow each of the international safeguards inspectorates (EC and IAEA), as well as the national authority (STUK) to effectively fulfil its mandate and to draw independent conclusions, while at the same time having the least possible impact on the spent nuclear fuel geological disposal process. The infrastructure requirements for a GR are derived from a need that all nuclear material transported into and out of the GR must be accounted for and characterized; and the opportunities for monitoring of nuclear material movements later below the surface will be limited. The safeguards approach shall provide for future reverification of nuclear material in the event of its retrieval from the GR, while the control and maintenance of the safeguard equipment installed on the GR boundary should be simple and economical in view of the long period of the GR operation (planned for at least 100 years). Consideration is being given to containment and surveillance measures complemented by radiation monitoring applied to all penetrations leading to and out of the GR disposal area. In addition, a system for continuous monitoring of potential undeclared spent fuel reprocessing and other activities is under consideration. Kr-85 monitoring on the GR ventilation system (located in the Ventilation Building), and seismic array data analysis are proposed as possible components of such system