Applying best practice to managing radioactive waste
Speaker: Lubi Dimitrovski, Private Consultant.
Hosted by the Nuclear Engineering Panel, Sydney Branch, Engineers Australia.
6:00 pm to 7:00 pm AEST Tuesday 25 July 2023.
Hybrid Event:
In-person at: Engineers Australia Sydney Division, 44 Market Street, Sydney, NSW.
Cost free to EA, ANA and students, $30 for others. ANA members contact ANA@nuclearaustralia.org.au for code for free registration.
To register go to https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/event/2023/06/applying-best-practice-managing-radioactive-waste-49286
Abstract
Australia is committed to providing safe and sustainable radioactive waste management over generations. This includes managing radioactive waste throughout its life cycle including interim storage, processing and treatment and packaging for disposal. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has produced over 90% of the current Australian inventory of radioactive waste. ANSTO has safely managed its radioactive waste for more than 65 years implementing best practice management processes. The establishment of the Australian Radiation Waste Agency (ARWA) and the announcement of a preferred site (Napandee, South Australia) to host the National Radioactive Waste Management Facility is a step forward for disposal of low-level waste, representing the highest volume of Australia’s radioactive waste inventory.
The presentation will describe the accepted three levels of radioactive waste (high, intermediate, low) and their characteristics necessary for handling, storage and disposal for each category. Low and intermediate level radioactive waste has been produced in Australia since the 1950s and has resulted in a large number of temporary storage sites. This material will now be consolidated and ultimately disposed of by ARWA at the selected site. High level waste results from spent reactor fuel which after cooling for several years is sent offshore for processing to reduce the volume of material and extract unburnt fuel, before return to Australia as intermediate level waste.
About the Speaker: Lubi Dimitrovski, Private Consultant
From 2013 to 2018 Lubi was responsible for the safe operation of Australia’s multipurpose OPAL reactor and for radioactive waste management at ANSTO. As the Group Executive Nuclear Operations, Lubi led a multi-skilled team to maximise the safety, reliability and availability of the OPAL reactor and deliver optimum benefit to users. The reliability of OPAL is essential to produce lifesaving medical radioisotopes and for fulfilling ANSTO’s scientific research goals for the benefit of Australia. Lubi managed the full nuclear cycle for ANSTO including the safe storage and transport of used nuclear fuel and the return of reprocessed intermediate level waste from overseas. Lubi is recognised internationally as a radioactive waste management expert and was the Australian representative at the IAEA Radioactive Waste Technical Advisory Committee from 2008 to 2014.