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| Bellona: spent fuel shipments awaiting storage |
The European Union adopted its first long-term nuclear waste storage law on July 19th. Spent fuel and high level radioactive waste will be stored deep underground and the law governing its storage will go into effect in September. Austria, Luxembourg and Sweden abstained from voting. Member states will have two years to comply and submit their national plans for approval by the European Commission, the Union's executive branch. There are 143 nuclear reactors in the EU that provide one-third of its electricity. The first European nuclear power reactor, UK's Calder Hall, began operation in 1956. These produce about 7,000 m³ of high-level waste each year. Hungary and Bulgaria export their nuclear waste to Russia
[photo], and the new law will allow exports to continue provided the receiving country has a deep geological depository in operation when the waste is shipped. Export to Antarctica, Africa, Oceania or the Caribbean is ruled out. Currently, a deep depository does not exist anywhere in the world, nor is a repository under construction outside the EU. The Yucca Mountain repository in Nevada was shut down by the current administration in the face of determined local opposition led by the current Senate Majority leader. According to a statement by the EU Commission, it takes about 40 years to build a proper deep geological repository. The new storage law makes IAEA safety standards legally binding and member states are required to invite regular peer review of standards.
