Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management

Spain’s Radioactive Waste Management Program

Low-level radioactive waste

Since 1992, Spain has disposed of low-level radioactive wastes in concrete-lined structures at the near-surface El Cabril disposal facility. El Cabril is located in the vicinity of Cordoba in Andalusia.

Spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste

At-reactor storage lasts at least 10 years for all spent nuclear fuel. Interim storage of spent nuclear fuel consists of at-reactor wet and dry methods. Centralized storage is planned for implementation by 2010.

Reprocessing spent nuclear fuel

Spain had intended to develop reprocessing capabilities but cancelled its plans in 1983, mostly due to the abundance of reasonably priced uranium.

Transporting radioactive waste

Spain has a licensed dual-purpose transportation and storage cask.

Deep geologic disposal plans

The present policy for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste management is continued interim storage followed by direct disposal into deep geologic formations. The 5th Radioactive Waste Management Plan, approved by the Spanish government in 1999, outlined that no decision on the final disposal of high-level radioactive waste be made up to 2010. Deep disposal study will continue, but new technologies, such as partitioning and transmutation, may also be considered. Intensified international collaboration is also stressed.

Non-specific conceptual repository designs have been developed for three candidate host rocks: clay, granite, and salt. The designs provide a basis for research and development, performance, and safety activities and the safety assessment studies of a multi-barrier repository system.

Yucca Mountain Project