VIENNA, September 22 (RIA Novosti) – Russian state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom plans to complete a major operation to eliminate accumulated radioactive waste in Russia in 20-25 years, General Director of Rosatom Sergei Kiriyenko said Monday.
"In Russia the principles adopted by the international community for radioactive waste management have been set in law. The statutory, safe and cost-effective disposal of waste is intended to protect the health of future generations and to release them from the burden of accumulated waste. In the next 20-25 years we plan to complete the main bulk of the work to eliminate this legacy," Kiriyenko said at the 58th IAEA General Conference.
According to Kiriyenko, such activities include the processing of all spent nuclear fuel with the dumping of waste, decommissioning of nuclear and hazardous radiation facilities and the cleaning of contaminated lands.
"At the on-site Mining and Chemical facility, existing facilities for the storage of irradiated fuel and the treatment of the medium and high-level waste are being developed, industrial infrastructure is being created to solve problems associated with spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste through the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle," the head of Rosatom said.
Rosatom State Atomic Energy Corporation was established in Moscow in 2007 as a result of a reorganization of the Federal Agency on Atomic Energy. It brings together over 350 nuclear companies and research and development institutions operating in the civilian and defense sectors.
