Speaker
Description
The safe and secure transport of radioactive waste (RW) in Ukraine involves a multi-stage process encompassing preparation, packaging, loading, shipment, unloading and receipt at interim storage facilities, followed by transfer to long-term storage or disposal sites. Each stage is governed by national regulations harmonised with IAEA standards. The paper highlights Ukraine’s regulatory approaches, technical solutions, and practical experience in RW transport, with a particular focus on licensing procedures, safety assessments, and certification of package designs. Recent regulatory updates in Ukraine, including revised requirements for safety analysis reports, refined licensing procedures, and enhanced management system requirements, will be presented alongside performance indicators such as incident-free transport rates, occupational and public doses, and inspection results. A unique challenge addressed in the paper is the regulation of radioactive source transport from facilities exposed to military actions – an area with limited international regulatory precedent. Case studies illustrate the integration of radiation protection measures, emergency preparedness, and real-time monitoring during transport.
The Ukrainian experience demonstrates a comprehensive, adaptive framework for ensuring transport safety and offers lessons of value to the international community. The analysis covers the entire technological chain – from documentation and classification to loading, in-transit monitoring, unloading, and receipt at storage or disposal facilities.
