DECOMMISSIONING OF FOUR GERMAN FUEL CYCLE FACILITIES

The decommissioning of four Siemens fuel cycle facilities is described in this paper. Three fuel fabrication plants – two for uranium and one for MOX fuel assemblies – and a hot cell research complex are in various stages of decommissioning. All the buildings of one facility have already been handed over to a new operator for non-nuclear production after a 6-year decontamination and clearance procedure. Special problems, techniques, methods of meas-urement and experience associated with these decommissioning projects are outlined. A de-scription of waste management, mainly dealing with α-waste, and examples of cost optimiza-tion are also provided. Ten years of practice in decommissioning and dismantling provide a unique platform of experience. Finally, the paper outlines the possible application of know-how and equipment from the larger MOX fabrication facility, which never went into opera-tion, for conversion of ex-weapons plutonium in Russia