Experts View `Problem' of Vinca Radioactive Waste
Belgrade BETA 18 March 1997
Belgrade, 18 Mar (BETA) --
Miroslav Kopecni, director of the Vinca Nuclear Research
Institute, said today that the problem of radioactive waste
in Vinca was not alarming, but that it had to be solved
with the help of the state.
At a panel discussion "Future Status of the RA Reactor
and Safe Disposal of Nuclear Fuel" held in the Vinca
Institute, Kopecni said that the Institute was currently
in a very difficult material situation. He said that at
the beginning of 1995, Serbia had stopped financing
the maintenance of four of the institute's projects,
and added that "the federal state did not accept them,
although a Federal Nuclear Commission had been formed."
He went on to say that there were four options
available in the case of the RA research reactor in Vinca,
which has been out of operation for almost 14 years and is
worth some $47 million. The options are as follows: the
status quo, continuation of work, dismantling, or
conservation.
Kopecni said that the International Atomic Agency
(IAEA) in 1984 had approved a loan for Vinca and ordered
brand new measuring and regulation equipment for the
reactor, which means that, today, "the reactor is equipped
with practically new regulation equipment, which makes it
possible for it to work again," and stressed that its
dismantling would be far more expensive.
"Thirty-nine people work on the reactor, yet no one in
the country supports them because there is no one to finance
their work, i.e., neither the Republic of Serbia nor the
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia [FRY] are ready to finance
the largest nuclear machine in the country," Kopecni said
and added that the reactor and everything connected to it
has been left to the institute to deal with.
The institute in Vinca has in its possession 42 kg of
fresh nuclear fuel enriched with uranium procured from the
former USSR, Kopecni said.
The weeklies NIN and Vreme reported on articles
published in the specialized publication Nuclear Fuel that
claim that Vinca officials demanded the removal of the fuel
because of the danger of it falling into the hands of
"political desperadoes" if the situation in Serbia
deteriorates.
Kopecni confirmed that the fuel in question was
strategic material, worth $4.7 million, but added that the
IAEA inspectorate had full control over it. Each month, the
IAEA's mission makes sure that the amount is still the same
and that nothing has been done with it.
"All stories that it can be sold are absolutely
without any basis in reality," Kopecni said, and added that
in line with the agreement signed with Russia, the fuel
cannot be sold or moved without Russia's approval.
The problem lies in the existence of an international
program which wants high-grade enriched fuel to be taken
away from research reactors for strategic reasons, Kopecni
explained.
"We have had open offers to return the fuel to Russia
in exchange for low-grade enriched fuel and help with
installing the donated equipment, which would make it
possible for us to have a working machine, a personal dream
of mine," Kopecni said.
All of the reactors' systems are in working order, and
it could work. This would have several advantages, i.e.,
employment of experts, cooperation with the world, research,
Kopecni said, but pointed out that before a decision on the
status of the reactor is made, the problem of radioactive
waste (used fuel) disposal must be solved.
Kopecni said that all countries have problems with
waste disposal, but that the situation in Vinca must be
solved.
He added that the fuel is located in aluminum barrels
in a pool, but that the so-called first safety barrier has
been broken because the barrels have corroded. Moreover,
leaks and increased radioactivity has been registered in
some of the fuel's elements.
International help is needed in resolving the
situation, but the FRY's membership in IAEA has been
suspended, and we cannot receive technical aid, Kopecni
said. He added that there is a Russian project available,
but no funds for it.
He explained that the project would cost $300,000, of
which the FRY should secure half, because, in spite of the
fact that donors have been found, IAEA regulations stipulate
that the country that has a problem has to secure the
funds.
Milena Matausek, who heads the project for the
solution of the RA reactor's future status, pointed out that
only developed countries can solve the problem of used fuel
disposal by themselves.
She said that Vinca experts have carried out tests to
ascertain the possibility of an uncontrolled nuclear chain
reaction in the pool, and added that the results showed that
there is no danger of the reaction that could result in
immense consequences for the environment.
Matausek also pointed out the problem of technical aid
unavailable to the FRY becuase of its suspended membership
in IAEA; she assessed press reports on the 42 kg of uranium
as pressure to give up the fuel.
"If we do not put the reactor back in operation, we
shall certainly come under pressure to give up the high-
grade enriched fuel.... I believe that the pressure has
already started. The sensationalist tone and the fact that
we have started appearing in the press "in installments"
are part of the pressure," Matausek concluded.
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