India generates around 4 tonnes/GW nuclear waste per year: Government
Government has announced that around 4 tonnes of nuclear waste per gigawatt (GW) (1000 MW) is generated annually. This waste is similar to the amount of waste generated internationally by other countries. It was announced by Minister of State for Atomic Energy Jitendra Singh in a written response to a question in Lok Sabha.
Nuclear waste
In India any radioactive waste is disposed by following the Atomic Energy (Safe Disposal of Radioactive) Rules 1987. These rules are promulgated under the Atomic Energy Act, 1962.
- Generally, nuclear waste is generated from two kinds of facilities- Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) and Spent Fuel Processing Facilities.
- However, in India spent fuel is not considered as a waste as it has adopted close fuel cycle option, which involves reprocessing and recycling of the spent fuel. Thus it is not disposed.
- In case of Spent fuel generated from NPPs, it is cooled for a minimum period of 5 years before taking it up for reprocessing. During the reporcessing of spent fuel for recovering of valuable elements, the very small quantity of radioactive fission products (waste) is isolated.
This waste is then immobolised in suitable glass matrix in solid state through vitrification and stored in interim storage facility for initial cooling and surveillance. Then it is disposed at a geological disposal facility.
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Month: Current Affairs - December, 2014