RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT IN ARGENTINA
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RADIOACTIVE WASTE AND SPENT FUEL MANAGEMENT IN ARGENTINA Elvira Rosa Maset Programa Nacional de Gestión de Residuos Radiactivos (PNGRR) Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica, Av. del Libertador 8250, (C1429BNP) Buenos Aires, República Argentina ABSTRACT Since its creation in 1950, the Argentine Atomic Energy Commission (CNEA), has worked on the development of applications for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. They include, among others, research and development activities in basic and nuclear technology areas, the operation of important facilities for the production of radioisotopes and the performance of tasks in connection with the nuclear fuel cycle, mining and uranium processing activities, manufacturing of fuel elements, production of heavy water and the operation of two nuclear power plants. Also demonstrating reprocessing programs have been developed. As a result of the above mentioned activities performed in the nuclear field by private and public entities, various types of radioactive waste have been and are produced during operation and maintenance of facilities and plants, and will be produced in their future decommissioning. CNEA is also responsible for the environmental remediation of the closed uranium mining and milling facilities and for the management of disused sealed sources from medical and industrial applications. Activities concerning radioactive waste management are carried on according not only to Nuclear Regulatory Authority requirements and International Atomic Energy Agency recommendations, but also to the national legal framework. The Law Nº 25.018, "Radioactive Waste Management Regime“(1998), created the National Program for Radioactive Waste Management (PNGRR), as part of CNEA organization. INTRODUCTION Nowadays nuclear activities in Argentina are carried out by a number of different entities all across the country. Some of them are managed by CNEA, such as the three nuclear research centers (Bariloche, Ezeiza and Constituyentes); the technological center located in Pilcaniyeu (in Rio Negro province); the uranium mining and milling centre (in San Rafael, Mendoza province). There are other facilities managed by national or provincial states with participation of CNEA, like the Heavy Water Production Plant (ENSI, in Neuquén province); the Uranium Dioxide Production Plant (DIOXITEK, in Cordoba province); the Technological Development Centre (INVAP, in Río Negro province) and two nuclear power plants in charge of Nucleoeléctrica Argentina S.A. Other activities are the result of joint ventures between private investors and CNEA, like the facilities of Special Alloys Production Plant (FAE) and Fuel Elements Production Plant (CONUAR) or, in the nuclear medicine field, FUESMEN, in Mendoza province, where CNEA is associated with the local university.
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At present, the country has two Nuclear Power Plants (NPP´s) that produce the 6% of the electricity provision. There is a third NPP under construction, which is going to be operational in 2012 (as shown in Table I). Table I. Argentine Nuclear
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