Reactor dismantling
Status: ongoing
Period: 2009-2028
The reactor building houses most of the site radioactivity. For this reason, dismantling operations of its components (systems, vessel and others) are more complex to carry out.
Some dismantling preliminary activities have been already implemented.
The reactor building houses the primary system, namely the main four circuits that transfer heat from the reactor to turbines. Between 2003 and 2004, decontamination of the steam generators of the circuits reduced 100 times their activity levels. Between 2005 and 2008, asbestos was removed from pipes, pressure systems and steam generators of the reactor building.
Between 2009 and 2013, the ventilation system was re-adapted to make it more suitable for decommissioning operations. In the same period, the access routes to the container were restored to ease the handling of materials and the movement of people in the dismantling stage.
Between 2013 and 2017, non-contaminated components of the reactor were removed, resulting in approx. 200 tonnes of iron to be sent to a recovery facility after radiological tests. The operations presented some difficult aspects, related to the cutting of materials in narrow spaces and handling on the different floors of the building.