Cooperation among Chilean national stakeholders has ensured the safe and reliable transport of sealed discarded radioactive sources from storage facilities to Chilean airports. (*Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission).
Earlier this year, in a massive IAEA-supported clean-up operation, Chile removed a record number of 31 discarded sealed radioactive sources (DSRs) and transferred them to ** facilities abroad. The radioactive sources that were dismantled were mainly cobalt sources that had previously been used for cancer in Chilean hospitals and clinics**. Since they were taken out of service in 1992, they have been temporarily stored in specialized facilities managed by the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CCHEN).
The DSRS transfer operation is part of the IAEA's interregional project to improve nuclear safety and security by providing comprehensive technical assistance for the sustainable management of the DSRS.
Chile's DSRS management case is a successful example of how effective international cooperation can benefit national and global nuclear security," said Elena Buglova, Director of the IAEA's Department of Nuclear Safety. "The IAEA strongly encourages States to develop safe and secure national policies and strategies for the management of DSRS, and to provide assistance to those countries that are willing to invest in sustainable approaches. ”
In Chile, radioactive materials and sealed radioactive sources are mainly used in industrial applications, such as measuring parameters such as material thickness and density;Medical use for diagnostic and ** purposes;and for research purposes. DSRS account for about half of the radioactive material that waste management facilities receive each year from different activities across the country.
Luis Huerta Torchio, Executive Director of the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission, said: "Eliminating these has multiple benefits for CCHEN and the country as a whole, and is in line with circular economy goals in terms of ** and reuse. The demolition work greatly reduces the risk of any type of event associated with these waste sources. In addition, it frees up up to 30% of the space in national storage facilities for discarded radioactive sources, subsequently extending the possibility of its use by about ten years," he added.
The parties involved (i.e. the IAEA, the end-user representing Chile and the contractor) agreed on an operational plan in December 2021. The operation involves physical and radiological verification of radioactive sources, proper transport packaging, transportation, and last, delivery and export to ** facilities in Europe. The first 17** were exported in October 2022 and another 14** in July 2023.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has technically supervised the removal of Chilean sources to ensure that it is carried out safely and reliably. An operation of this magnitude would not have been possible without the tireless efforts of organizations such as CCHEN, skilled contractors, and relevant regulatory bodies. "This is priceless and represents a model that can be applied to future projects in other countries. ”
The IAEA project helps 34 countries manage discarded sealed radioactive sources.
Effective and ongoing regulatory and managerial control of radioactive sources is essential to prevent unauthorized use, accidents, or malicious acts with harmful radiological consequences. Once a sealed radioactive source has reached the end of its useful life, safe, reliable, and sustainable long-term management of DSRS is essential to reduce radiation hazards to the public and the environment. This is because DSRS may still contain a large amount of radioactivity and may emit ionizing radiation.
The project launched by the IAEA in 2019 and funded by Canada addresses the common needs and goals of the safe, secure and sustainable management of DSRS throughout its life cycle, and is currently in its first phase, including countries in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Pacific. Interest in the project is growing, with the second phase of the project launched in November 2022 with 24 new countries joining, more than double the number of countries joining the first phase. The second phase of the project will last three years and will be expanded to meet new needs related to the long-term management of DSRS.
The increase in the number of participating countries demonstrates the success of the first phase of the project, global interest in the safe and reliable handling of DSRS, and at the same time shows that there is still a lot of work to be done in this area", said Hildegard van den Hoof, Director of the IAEA's Department of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety. It also underscores the importance of collective efforts to support and sustain such technical assistance mechanisms. Building a sustainable DSRS management capacity is a priority for the IAEA. ”