Poland currently operates a single research reactor called Maria. It has no operational nuclear power plants. It is going to start construction of a plant with three Westinghouse AP1000 reactors in 2026. Poland also intends to build small modular reactors.
Poland’s Ministry of Climate and Environment (MCE) is currently seeking municipalities interested in participating in the process of selecting a site for a new surface repository for the disposal of low and intermediate-level short-lived radioactive waste.
The new facility is intended solely for the storage of low and intermediate-level waste and radioactive sources from nuclear power, industry, medicine and research and development in Poland. The new repository will not accept high-level waste or spent nuclear fuel. These require the construction of an underground facility with completely different characteristics and a different location.
The MCE said that during the construction of the new repository, it will use the experience gained during the operation of the existing National Radioactive Waste Repository (NRWR) in Różan. They added that the repository will “follow the example of proven facilities of this type operated in Spain (El Cabril) or France (Aube)”.
Zakład Unieszkodliwiania Odpadów Radiotworniczych (ZUOP) is a state-owned public utility. It is responsible for the proper handling of radioactive waste from the moment it is taken over from the producer. ZUOP will be the primary investor and operator of the repository.
Preference will be given to municipalities with an area of about one hundred hectares for the construction of a landfill and auxiliary facilities. But the area must meet certain specific requirements. These requirements include the following items. The repository must be located at least thirty miles from the Polish land border. It must be in an area where there are lands of low production quality. It cannot be located within areas such as national parks or nature reserves. It cannot be within populated areas. And, finally, it must not be in areas prone to earthquakes, subsidence or flooding.
The ZUOP mentioned that the municipality where the new repository will be located will be entitled to an annual fee from the state budget. This fee will be paid from the date of acceptance of the first radioactive waste to the repository until the decision to close the repository. The fee will be four hundred percent of the income from the real estate tax located in the area obtained in the previous year. It will not be more than two and a half million dollars.
Municipalities have until November 15th to apply to participate in the selection process. However, the ZUOP stated that the “The deadline for submitting municipalities may be extended”.
The ZUOP added that “The selection of the best location for the construction of the repository will take place after obtaining the approval of the local community for this investment and conducting geological and geophysical research, which will allow the assessment of the suitability of these areas for the implementation of the investment in accordance with the criteria set out in the Atomic Law.”