NECSA’S Disposes of Low Level Waste at Vaalputs (21 June 2011)

Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2011

RELEASE: DISPOSING OF NECSA’S LOW LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE AT VAALPUTS

Two hundred and ten (210) metal waste packages of low level radioactive waste from South African Nuclear Energy Corp. (Necsa)were recently transported to the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility at Vaalputs in the Northern Cape Province, under the oversight of the nuclear watchdog, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR).
In the early 1960’s, Necsa generated waste from various nuclear programs, the waste was accumulated and stored responsibly in a number of licensed facilities on the Necsa site.
There is international consensus that all regulations regarding responsible decommissioning, waste management and disposal of waste, are to be fully complied with. In South Africa, the management of radioactive waste is subject to regulations promulgated by the Minister of Energy in terms of the Nuclear Energy Act of 1999 and delegated to Necsa in terms of section 55(2) of the Act.
After the parliamentary approval of the Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy for South Africa in 2005, which confirmed Vaalputs as the
Various submissions were made to the NNR, which included, a Transport Safety Assessment, Transport Plan and Procedures, Vaalputs Operational Safety Assessment and Vaalputs Post Closure Safety Assessment.
Necsa, in conjunction with the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) held training sessions with emergency personnel along the proposed route, to prepare for any incident or emergency.
During March 2011 the final approval was obtained from the NNR and the waste was transported in the course of May 2011.

Petroleum Africa
21 June 2011