France: Nuclear waste to double by 2030

According to the country’s nuclear waste agency Andra, the stockpiles of nuclear waste in France are expected to double over the 18 years. Most of the waste will have low toxicity and a short life, while some of it will remain radioactive for more than two million years.

There are 1.3 million cubic meters of nuclear waste in France at the moment and it is expected to jump to 2.7 million by 2030. The actual amount of waste corresponds to 2 kilogrammes per person.

Though only 0.2 % of existing reserves are highly radioactive, some of the material, such as neptunium 237, can remain active for more than 2 million years.

A new very deep site for high and medium radioactivity is expected to be opened by 2025 in the east of the country. Andra report warns that if nuclear power stations are closed ahead of schedule, stocks of waste will increase considerably for the reason that there will be fewer opportunities of recycling waste.

Nuclear power is the main source of electricity in France, with 58 nuclear reactors currently in operation, producing nearly 80% of the country's electricity needs.

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18.07.2012 12:53