Safe storage of radioactive waste for Hungary

Opportunity

Bátaapáti, Hungary’s national radioactive waste repository, required expansion to safely store low and intermediate-level radioactive waste coming from operation and decommissioning of the Paks power plant. It is built in an area with complex, fractured rock making up the geology. A conventional design approach would have resulted in a design with a high level of redundancy – a very thick reinforced concrete lining – to avoid risk of ground movement and cracking, which could compromise radiological security. However, we recognised that a detailed understanding of ground conditions – rock characterisation – would enable design and construction efficiencies to be achieved.

Solution

We provided industry-leading research, testing and analysis of the site to determine its rock characteristics and stability to design a safe and secure radioactive waste facility for the long-term. We played an integral part in the design and construction of the facility extension and were responsible for all mining works, as well as on-site supervision.

In a complex geological area, we explored many alternative possibilities for rock support and waterproofing techniques. Monitoring and testing data was undertaken in parallel with producing the calculations that underpin the design – we provided data management services to help process the information received from instrumentation and monitoring of the site to inform the emerging designs.

Our team of geologists and hydrologists, geotechnical, tunnelling and mining engineers worked closely to set up and analyse trends in the structural and rock behaviour.

Drums of waste are deposited in chambers that can be sealed using a technique we designed to meet the radiological safety requirements.

Outcome

Our design and engineering on the Bátaapáti underground radioactive waste repository will provide safe storage for approximately 70,000m3 of low and intermediate-level radioactive waste generated by the operation of Paks over the next 30 years.