From October 25 to November 2, experts from the Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (hereinafter: KAERI) visited the Chornobyl NPP. The purpose of their visit was to participate in tests of Korean pilot technologies for radioactive material management.
The tests were performed using two technologies: radioactive graphite management and transuranium elements removal using selected samples. Specialists of the ChNPP Measuring Water-Radiochemical Laboratory performed the tests.
“As a result of this cooperation project, we expect continuation of our RAW management technologies development. KAERI and ChNPP have a common interest in Units decommissioning and RAW management, so in the future we hope to continue to develop technologies and achieve their successful commercialization”, said Keunyoung Lee Project Manager of KAERI Radioactive Waste Management Program.
It will be recalled that in 2014, South Korea decided to shut down its own Nuclear Power Plants, which operational life-time is close to completion, and to develop a program to prepare technologies for the Nuclear Power Plants decommissioning. In October 2020, an Agreement on Cooperation was signed between ChNPP and KAERI. Under the agreement, ChNPP provided an opportunity to use the features of its industrial site to test Korean technologies for radioactive material management.
For information: KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute) was established in 1959 as the only one professional research institute for nuclear energy in South Korea.
