Nuclear facilities and radioactive waste — EU decommissioning assistance (2021-2027)

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (Euratom) 2021/100 establishing a dedicated financial programme for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the management of radioactive waste

Regulation (EU) 2021/101 establishing the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATIONS?

Regulation (Euratom) 2021/100 establishes a financial programme for decommissioning* nuclear facilities, and managing radioactive waste of the Commission’s nuclear installations and of specified installations in Bulgaria and Slovakia.
Regulation (EU) 2021/101 establishes a nuclear decommissioning assistance programme in Lithuania.

KEY POINTS

The 2 multiannual programmes have the following in common:

each runs from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027;
the knowledge gained is shared among all EU Member States;
the European Commission must present to the European Parliament and the Council:
- a progress report at the end of each year based on radioactive waste management, dismantling and decontamination indicators;
- an interim evaluation within 4 years of the start of the programmes and a final evaluation, no later than 5 years after they end;
recipients of EU funding must ensure the visibility of the EU funding to various audiences, including the media and public.

Regulation (Euratom) 2021/100:

supports the safe decommissioning of:
- the Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria,
- the Bohunice V1 plant in Slovakia;
implements the decommissioning process and manages radioactive waste at four Joint Research Centre (JRC) sites:
- JRC-Geel (Belgium),
- JRC-Karlsruhe (Germany),
- JRC-Ispra (Italy),
- JRC-Petten (the Netherlands);
supports the JRC to:
- manage radioactive waste, nuclear material and spent fuel safely;
- explore and develop options for transferring decommissioning and waste management liabilities to the host Member States;
- develop ties and exchange knowledge among those involved, such as governments, safety authorities, utilities and decommissioning operators;
- document knowledge gained and make this available;
has a €466 million budget shared between the programmes as follows:
- €63 million for the Kozloduy programme;
- €55 million for the Bohunice programme;
- €348 million for the JRC;
states that the EU will provide no more than 50% of the costs of the Kozloduy and Bohunice programmes, with Bulgaria and Slovakia covering the rest;
repeals Regulation (Euratom) No 1368/2013.

Regulation (EU) 2021/101:

supports the safe decommissioning of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania, including:
- dismantling and decontaminating the reactor shafts;
- managing safely the decommissioning and the legacy waste;
- implementing the building demolition programme;
- obtaining the decommissioning licence;
- downgrading radiological hazards;
has a €552 million budget;
states that the EU will provide no more than 86% of the costs involved, with the remainder to be covered by Lithuania and other sources;
repeals Regulation (EU) No 1369/2013.

FROM WHEN DO THE REGULATIONS APPLY?

Both have applied since 1 January 2021.

BACKGROUND

Decommissioning a nuclear power plant is the final step in its life cycle. The long process involves activities from shutdown and removal of nuclear material to environmental restoration of the site.
Directives 2011/70/Euratom on radioactive waste (see summary) and 2009/71/Euratom on the safety of nuclear installations (see summary) set out Member States’ ultimate responsibility for nuclear safety. This includes decommissioning and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.

KEY TERMS

Decommissioning: administrative and technical measures to dismantle a nuclear facility until it no longer requires radiation protection.

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/100 of 25 January 2021 establishing a dedicated financial programme for the decommissioning of nuclear facilities and the management of radioactive waste, and repealing Regulation (Euratom) No 1368/2013 (OJ L 34, 1.2.2021, pp. 3-17)

Council Regulation (EU) 2021/101 of 25 January 2021 establishing the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania and repealing Regulation (EU) No 1369/2013 (OJ L 34, 1.2.2021, pp. 18-28)