Speaker
Description
Among the actions aimed at the decommissioning of the Caldas Decommissioning Unit (UDC), branch of Nuclear Industries of Brazil (INB), there is the management of TORTA II, a low activity radioactive waste. This material originated from monazite processing was brought from São Paulo unit, which was decommissioned in the 1990s. There are approximately 13,000 tons of waste packed in 40,000 drums stored in sheds and semi-buried concrete silos.
Currently, UDC has been improving the waste management in order to guarantee the protection of human health and the environment. Among these actions, the overpacking operation and infrastructure improvements in the sheds stand out. Several occupational radiological controls are being adopted such as the use of personal protective equipment, special clothing and detectors to control radiation exposure. Others projects involve civil works of the new access control, the renovation of existing shed and the replacement of the semi-buried silo roof.
Among the possible solutions, one is this sale of this material to companies interested in recovering elements such as uranium, thorium and rare earths. Through all the improvements being made, this material will be stocked safely and properly until the definitive solution is adopted.
