The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) has announced it is to send 10 years’ worth of nuclear waste to France to have it stored in glass.
According to the Organisation, it will be the 10th routine transport of spent nuclear fuel assemblies from its Lucas Heights plant in Sydney and is scheduled for the middle of this year.
ANSTO said the single export consisted of material that had enabled a decade of research and medicine production in Australia.
“It will be sent to La Hague in France, where it will be reprocessed — removing unused uranium and plutonium, and safely immobilising the residual waste in glass, in a process called vitrification,” ANSTO said in a formal statement.
“The benefits that this spent fuel has enabled include production of around 5.5 million nuclear medicine doses for Australian patients since 2007, used for diagnosis and treatment of heart, lung, and skeletal conditions and cancers.”
It said the material had also been used in the development of Lutetium-177, now part of clinical trials for neuroendocrine tumours and prostate cancer, and the irradiation of more than 45 tonnes of silicon each year — the raw material that enabled high-powered electronic devices such as solar farms, hybrid cars and wind farm technology.
“As with nine previous shipments, this operation will be conducted in collaboration with Agencies including State and Federal Police, road and maritime authorities, and regulators,” ANSTO said.
“In line with standard operational and security requirements, ANSTO will not comment on the port, routes or timing until after the transport is complete, except to confirm it will occur in mid 2018.”
