Management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. ISIN supports the IAEA's ARTEMIS service as part of the international audit mission held in Denmark.

An effective system for the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste: at the request of the Danish government, a team of experts from the IAEA, in which ISIN also participated with its own representative, provided an independent evaluation of the national radioactive waste and spent fuel management program.

The IAEA analysis was conducted as part of the ARTEMIS mission (Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation).

ARTEMIS Missions provide independent international review of Member States' programs for radioactive waste and spent fuel management based on relevant IAEA safety standards. For the Member States of the European Union, as is the case of Denmark, the carrying out of the ARTEMIS mission also satisfies specific obligations established by Directive 2011/70/Euratom, which establishes a Community reference framework for the safe management of radioactive waste and spent fuel.

A similar mission is also being organized in Italy, scheduled for 2023.

Denmark does not have active nuclear power plants but manages waste deriving from the previous operation of some plants located in the Risø Nuclear Research Center, including three research reactors, and from their ongoing decommissioning, together with waste generated by health and industrial uses.

Furthermore, by 2025, a new structure for the storage of radioactive waste will be built and the possibilities of geological disposal at a depth of 500 meters are being studied, with the aim of transferring the stored waste to the disposal plant at the most. late by 2073.

The ARTEMIS review group in Denmark included four experts from Germany, Italy, Lithuania and Switzerland, supported by three staff members from the IAEA. From 1 to 9 May last, the team met the representatives of the various Danish institutions involved in various capacities in the National Radioactive Waste Program, including in particular the Competent Regulatory Authority, Danish Health Authority, and the implementing body. of the program, the public company Danish Decommissioning. Based on these exchanges and following a visit to the Risø facilities, the team prepared a report in which some recommendations and suggestions were made.

Further information on the mission can be found on the IAEA website: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/pressreleases/iaea-mission-finds-progress-in-waste-management-in-denmark-sees-specific-areas- for-improvement