IAEA/NAGRA Technical Meeting 23-25 April Nottwil Switzerland

Interregional TC Project INT/9/173

Training in & demonstration of waste disposal technologies in

underground research laboratories

Status of Radioactive Waste Disposal in

Pakistan
BY

MANZUR HUSSAIN
Waste Management Division
Directorate General National Repository

PAKISTAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION

MAJOR SOURCES OF
RAW IN PAKISTAN
a. NUCLEAR POWER
EXISTING

KANNUP-137 MWe, CANDU type,

Critical since 1972, Renovated in 2004 for next ~ 15 years
CHASNUPP (C-1)- 300 MWe, PWR, since 2000,
supplied by China
UNDER CONSTRUCTION
CHASNUPP (C-2), 300 MWe, PWR, from 2011,
Supplied by China
PLANNED

~ 8800 MWe by 2030

MAJOR SOURCES OF
RAW IN PAKISTAN (Continued)
b. RESEARCH
Nuclear Technology
PINSTECH:
*PARR-1

*PARR-2

02 Research Reactors
10MWTh
20% enriched.
1965, upgraded in 1990
Production/use of radioisotopes
27 KW

c. AGRICULTURE In a few cities

d. MEDICINE:
e. INDUSTRY:

Nuclear Medical Centers/Hospitals in all big

cities
Variety of applications

NATIONAL RWM STRATEGY

Pre-disposal
(Pretreatment, Treatment, Conditioning, Packaging & Interim Storage)

Waste Generators

Off-site Transportation and Disposal

Directorate General of National Repository

WASTE DISPOSAL STRATEGY

Sr. No

Waste Class

Type of Disposal Facility

Very Low Level Waste (VLLW)

Near Surface disposal in earthen

trenches

Low & Intermediate Level ShortLived Waste (LILW-SL)

Near Surface

Low & Intermediate Level

Long-Lived Waste (LILW-LL)
i) LLW-LL
ii) ILW-LL

Near Surface
Intermediate Depth

High Level Waste (HLW)/SF

Geological

DISPOSAL STATUS
No disposal facility (Repository) for
conditioned waste
Siting process started a few years back

HOST MEDIA FOR REPOSITORY

Available Media
Evaporites
Sedimentary
Hard Rocks

Rock Salt
Clay
Granite

Priority
Same site for Near Surface & Geological Repository
(Granite/Clay)
Otherwise
Near Surface Disposal - Clay Formations
Deep Geological Repository Hard Rocks (granite)

ENVISAGED TIME FRAME

1. Near Surface Disposal Facility

8-11 yr

2. Geological Repository

28-35 yr

(Continued)

NEAR SURFACE DISPOSAL FACILITY

(SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES)

1. Area Survey

~01 yr

2. Site Characterization Studies:

2-3 yr

Geotechnical Studies
Hydrogeological Studies
Groundwater flow/contaminant transport modeling

3. Site Confirmation & Licensing

2-3 yr

In-situ Testing
Safety Assessment Studies

4. Land Acquisition

01 yr

5. Construction

2-3 yr

6. Commissioning/start of disposal

GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY
(SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES)

1. Area Survey

1-2 yr

2. Site characterization

5-6 yr

3. Site Confirmation & Licensing

9-10 yr

4. Land Acquisition

1-2 yr

5. Construction

12-15 yr

6. Commissioning/start of disposal

AREAS OF COLLABORATION
WITH IAEA
On-going Projects
INT/9/173
PAK/03/011 - 2007-2009

In-Process Project
TC-Project Submitted:
Strengthening the Infrastructure for Development & Safety
Assessment of Radioactive Waste Disposal Facilities (2009-2011)
Activities/Outcomes:
Learning Opportunities (EM, SV, F-SHIPS)
Acquisition of Equipment

INT/9/173 - COMMENTS
Very useful in development of human resources
Playing active role in promoting interaction
among advanced and young disposal programs
through: providing great learning/sharing opportunities
at Meetings
participation in training courses
visit to underground research laboratories
discussions with experts during training
courses/visits/technical meetings

SUGGESTIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS
Create More Learning Opportunities: Short training courses
Fellowships of longer duration

Give coverage to following topical areas:

Siting of radioactive waste disposal facilities

Site characterization
Evaluation of engineered barriers
Safety analysis/assessment at various stages of siting
process
Arrange occasional visits to URLs on request of member
countries
Arrangement of visits to disposal sites (all types)

THANK YOU