Information for CoRWM on International Experience

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Information for CoRWM on International Experience

• Belgium

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Nuclear Belgium in a nutshell

• CEN/SCK
• BN
• FBFC
• IRMM
• Belgoprocess
• ex-Eurochemicex-Waste Dept. SCK.CEN

• Mol-Dessel

www.nirond.be

• Brussels
• ONDRAF/NIRAS

• Fleurus Farciennes
• IRE

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Nuclear Activities in Belgium Compared to UK (1)
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Reprocessing

• The original plant, Eurochemic has been shut-down
  in the early 70s.
• Fuel was reprocessed in France or UK.
• Moratorium since 1994
• Spent fuel is now stored at the power stations1
• If all fuel were reprocessed, there would be
  4,700 m3 of HLW

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Nuclear Activities in Belgium Compared to UK (2)
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Conditioned waste volumes to be managed
Open cycle(non-reprocessing option)
Closed cycle(reprocessing option)
Cat. C(2200m³)
Cat. C(4700 m³)
Cat. B(8700 m³)
www.nirond.be
Cat. B(8700 m³)
Cat. A(70.500 m³)
Cat. A(70.500 m³)
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Nuclear Activities in Belgium Compared to UK (3)
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Current Nuclear Policy

• A bill calling for the phasing out of all nuclear
  power within the next 40 years was passed in
  January 2003
• Minister of Energy is carrying out a review and
  will report in 2006
• There will be an election in 2007

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Radioactive waste Three categories A, B and C
www.nirond.be
Short half-life (30 years or less) A A C
Long half-life (30 years or more) B B C
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Historical Context

• 1974 - Early Conflict over proposed power plant
  at Zeebrugge
• 1983 - End of dumping radioactive waste at sea
• 1986 - Chernobyl leading to 1988 moratorium on
  nuclear energy affirmed in 2003
• 1987-8 Transnuklear scandal brings nuclear
  shipments and waste into prominence.
• 1993 Protects over shipments from La Hague and
  moratorium on processing
• In recent years nuclear issue has been quiescent
  with radioactive waste management as the salient
  issue

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Radioactive Waste

• Focus on search for inland sites for long term
  management of short lived low and intermediate
  waste (Category A)
• 1984-94 NIRAS/ONDRAF pursue technical solutions
  revealing 98 sites in 47 municipalities
• All sites rejected

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Radioactive Waste (Cont.)

• New Approach confirmed in 1998 based on
• Disposal, shallow or deep
• Engage with nuclear communities, invite
• others to consider volunteering
• emphasis on socio-political aspects
• Identified the Integrated Repository Concept

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Long-term management of low-level radioactive
waste

• Council of Ministers of January 16th, 1998
• DISPOSAL IS THE CHOICE
• Final (or liable to become final)
• Reversible
• Progressive and flexible
• Either surface or geological
• Concentrate on existing nuclear sites
• Co-operate with local actors to integrate
  disposal in local socio-economic structure

www.nirond.be
THE ANSWER Public participation in
decision-making processes through the creation of
local partnerships
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Partnerships

• The concept of partnerships was developed jointly
  by the Universities of Antwerp and Liege
• Based on the concept that collective
  decision-making involves negotiation

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The Local Partnership Concept a representative
democracy at micro level

• A local partnership is a non-profit organisation
• engaging representative local partners,
• in potentially interested host communities,
• willing to discuss whether and under which
  circumstances they could accept a repository,
• and to work out an integrated project with added
  value
• located  on site 

www.nirond.be
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The partnership structure
www.nirond.be
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Structure

• General Assembly 1 ONDRAF member
• Executive Committee - 1 ONDRAF member
• Four working groups - 1 ONDRAF member
• Two full time project coordinators

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Partnerships

• Mol (February, 2000), Dessel (September, 1999)
  and Fleurus and Farciennes (February, 2003) set
  up separate partnerships
• Doel did not respond because of greater
  priorities associated with the furure of the town
• Tihange refused because they considered SNF in
  the ponds to be the greater priority

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Composition at Dessel

• General Accessibly 29
• Executive Committee 9
• Working Groups 15 to 20 (Anyone can attend)
• Mol 35 12

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Current Status

• The process took 4 years compared to the planned
  period of two years
• The Municipal Councils in Dessel and Mol have
  approved the reports of their General Assemblies
  and their reports have been forwarded to
  Government
• Fleurus is expected to report shortly
• Government decision will follow.

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Funding

• Provided by ONDRAF
• Operation 250,000 euros/year including salaries
  for two staff
• Socio-economic assessment 75,000 euros
• Design 75,000 euros
• ONDRAF pay for all technical development

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Conditions - Safety

• Monitoring for 300 years
• Emergency programmes
• Contingency officer
• Specialised intervention team
• Waste must be recoverable
• Adequate records

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Conditions - Health

• Data on deaths, cancer and congenital defects to
  be gathered
• All inhabitants to have free annual check-up
• Future research by Government into health and
  environment must include Dessel

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Conditions - Environment

• Monitoring of air, surface water and ground water
• Regular publishing of the results
• All transport must be by canal as far as
  practicable

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Conditions Local Community (1)

• Digital and interactive network for every family
• Theme park focussing on radioactivity
• Communication centre
• Dessel sustainability fund to improve living,
  housing and working conditions funded by the
  Government and independent of the Municipality
  taxing of nuclear industry

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Conditions Local Community (2)

• Opportunities for environmental and economic
  development space for small and medium
  enterprises (SMEs)
• Development of the local motorway

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Future Decision-making

• The results of the negotiation between the Dessel
  community and the implementers must result in a
  legally binding agreement.
• The negotiations must inspire public confidence
  by
• Being completed reasonably quickly
• Making safety paramount

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Characteristics of Partnerships

• Threes areas volunteered, all in nuclear
  locations. The nuclear locations of Doel and
  Tihange declined.
• Mol urban, pluralistic concerned about image
  and clean up
• Dessel more rural, nuclear community with
  concern about revival of declining nuclear
  industry.

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Characteristics of Partnerships

• Fleures-Farciennes Walloon, decling mining area
  with high unemployment concerned about economic
  revival and development
• Mol and Dessel which have shared a nuclear zone
  have put in separate concepts and conditions. F-F
  be submitted. Government will decide location and
  concept in 2006

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Belgian Partnerships Implications for CoRWM

• Focus on social rather than technical context
• Volunteer approach though emphasis on nuclear
  communities
• Emphasis benefit to area
• Community has control

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Belgian Partnerships Implications for CoRWM
(Cont.)

• Able to withdraw from process
• Use of trusted independent body to facilitate
  process
• Involvement of local stakeholders close to
  community
• Legitimation through representative democratic
  process

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Contrasts with the UK

• Nuclear Issue is less politicised in Belgium,
  though this may change
• Partnership relate to A waste only. High level
  waste would require site specific criteria
• Local government context is very different
• Issue of packages, volunteerism, veto and
  local/central relationships all need to be
  considered in a British context