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Italy
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|
Number of nuclear units connected to the grid |
Nuclear electricity generation (net TWh) |
Nuclear percentage of total electricity supply |
|
| Italy |
-- |
-- |
-- |
| OECD Europe |
150 |
929.3 |
27.3 |
|
TOTAL |
346 (out of 437 worldwide) |
2278.1 |
23.1 |
Table 1. Status of nuclear power plants
|
Station |
Type |
Capacity |
Operator |
Status |
Reactor Supplier |
Construction Date |
Criticality Date |
Grid Date |
Commercial Date |
Shutdown Date |
|
CAORSO |
BWR |
860 |
Sogin1 |
Shut Down |
AMN/GETS |
01-Jan-70 |
31-Dec-77 |
23-May-78 |
01-Dec-81 |
01-Jul-90 |
|
ENRICO FERMI (TRINO) |
PWR |
260 |
Sogin1 |
Shut Down |
WEST |
01-Jul-61 |
21-Jun-64 |
22-Oct-64 |
01-Jan-65 |
01-Jul-90 |
|
GARIGLIANO |
BWR |
150 |
Sogin1 |
Shut Down |
GE |
01-Nov-59 |
05-Jun-63 |
01-Jan-64 |
01-Jun-64 |
01-Mar-82 |
|
LATINA |
GCR |
153 |
Sogin1 |
Shut Down |
TNPG |
01-Nov-58 |
27-Dec-62 |
12-May-63 |
01-Jan-64 |
01-Dec-87 |
In the context of the privatisation and liberalisation of the electric energy market, and according to a legislative Decree (Decreto legislativo n° 79 , 16 March 1999) all Enel's assets and liabilities (and all capabilities and resources) connected to nuclear power have been assigned to a newly established company, SO.G.I.N. (Società Gestione Impianti Nucleari, hereafter Sogin). Sogin has been operational since 1 November 1999, its shares were transferred in 2000 to the Ministry of the Treasury (now the Ministry of the Economy and Finance) and Sogin acts according to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Crafts (hereafter referred to as Ministry of Industry).
The mission of Sogin covers:
Authorisations are granted by the Ministry for Productive Activities (MAP, formerly the Ministry of Industry), on the basis of the technical advice of the National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPA).
ANPA is a technical body governed by public law with operational and administrative autonomy under the supervision of the Ministry of the Environment. It is responsible for the regulation and supervision (by inspection) of nuclear installations regarding matters of nuclear safety and radiation protection.
The Technical Commission for Nuclear Safety and Health Protection from Ionising Radiation, is an advisory body of ANPA, which gives its technical advice on questions of safety and health protection in relation to the main stages in the licensing procedure. It is composed of experts from ENEA, ANPA, and various ministries.
The Ministry for the Environment is the authority responsible for decisions regarding the environmental compatibility of nuclear projects, including the decommissioning of nuclear power stations and other reactors.
Due to the historical development of nuclear technology in Italy in the pioneering period, it was not possible to develop separate organisations for the roles of architect/engineer and nuclear steam systems supplier. Both activities were performed mainly by foreign companies. For example, the Caorso nuclear power plant's supplier was formed by a joint venture between ANSALDO and G.E. (AMN/GETS), while the architect engineering services were provided by the American company Gibbs & Hill. For PUN, it was foreseen that ENEL would have covered the role of architect engineering, and ANSALDO would have been the nuclear supplier.
At present, ANSALDO is participating in a joint venture with AECL in the construction of five CANDU reactors in Cernovoda, Romania (the first of which is now operating).
Sogin is also present in the international market offering mainly engineering and consultancy services for the refurbishing of power plants, for onsite assistance programmes and for decommissioning activities. At present, Sogin is participating in the PHARE and TACIS programmes: It has been since 1997 the leader of the onsite assistance project at the Medzamor plant (Armenia); as a partner of EDF it is undertaking safety improvements at the Aktau (Kazakistan) and Beloyarsk (Russia) fast breeder reactors; other services have been granted in other eastern europeen countries notably in the field of training. Sogin also provides consultancy services to ENEL regarding "due diligence" activities in the european electric market.
Since 1962, ENEL has been the only utility owner and operator of nuclear power reactors. ENEL has also acted as a maintenance company with several other private or state-owned companies (ANSALDO, Carlo Gavazzi, Fochi, Belleli, and FIAT). For instance, half of the outage services at the Caorso nuclear power plant were performed by the plant personnel and other half by external contractors. For the training of nuclear operators ENEL established, in the 1980s, a training centre in Piacenza equipped with a full scale BWR simulator. Of course, with the phase-out of activity in the nuclear sector, the centre is no longer operating. Now Sogin takes care of the post-operation activities of nuclear power plants to be decommissioned.
In Italy, there are no facilities for enriching uranium. Several installations have the capability to manufacture fuel elements. However, at the present time all are closed.
At the moment, fuel transportation is undertaken with the purpose of sending the fuel to BNFL (UK) for reprocessing. Transport is done using certified containers and only by authorised carriers. The authority responsible for issuing freight licences is the Ministry of Industry, after ANPA has given its technical assessment. The rules regulating the transport of radioactive material come from IAEA's Safety Series No. 6, and are in accordance with international regulations enacted by the ICAO, ADR, RID and IMO.
In the mid 1990s, Enel decided to terminate nuclear fuel reprocessing, on the basis of an economical and technical evaluation and to proceed with interim dry storage of the remaining spent fuel from light water reactors. At the moment, only the fuel related to contracts already issued is sent to BNFL for reprocessing. It was recognised that in light of the Italian situation, reprocessing would not have brought important advantages in terms of final disposal, since VHLW would have to be disposed of anyway together with other reprocessing generated wastes. Moreover, the waste form would not have specific advantages for final disposal, and therefore only the geological barriers present would be beneficial. The strategy is now to store in dual purpose (transport and storage) metallic casks, the fuel elements in interim storages on nuclear sites. When the national repository for radioactive waste is in operation, the storage will moved and continued there, waiting for a final (geological) disposal.
The sources of radioactive waste in Italy include the power plants formerly operated by ENEL, the fuel cycle plants operated by Fabbricazioni Nucleari S.p.A., ENEA research laboratories and experimental facilities, and non-energy users (for example: biomedical and other users).
Criteria applicable to the classification, treatment and disposal of radioactive waste are set forth in ENEA/DISP's Technical Guide No. 26, issued in May 1988 and updated in 1997. These rules allow above ground disposal of treated low-level waste (Categories I and II) and prescribe suitable final disposal solutions (such as deep disposal) for high-level waste (Category III).
For categories I and II, solid low-level waste is to be super-compacted and cemented. Liquid low-level waste is to be cemented in containers suitable for above ground storage.
It is a governmental commitment to define the guidelines of a regulatory framework for the management of radioactive wastes. In this view a national operator is to be created and appointed for the management of all existing and future wastes. In the meantime, a procedure has been initiated by the government in order to select the site for the final repository of second category wastes, the repository is at present scheduled to be operating early in 2009. The government has issued a draft law that anticipates the procedures for the establishment of the body that willbe responsible for the siting, construction and operation of the repository. While waiting for the constitution of the national operator, Sogin has provided strategies for the temporary storage on their sites of produced wastes. ANPA is responsible for the licensing aspects.
For additional information on the Italian radioactive waste management programme please see the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency's Radioactive Waste Management Programmes in OECD/NEA Member Countries.
Nuclear research is conducted by several agencies, institutions and universities. The leading agency for applied nuclear research is ENEA with its Energy Research Centre (CRE) at Casaccia, near Rome.
Theoretical research in the nuclear field is performed mainly under the aegis of CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche) and INFN (Instituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare) in its four main laboratories: Laboratori Nazionali di Frascati; Laboratori Nazionali di Legnano; Laboratori Nazionali del Sud; and the new Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso.
In nuclear engineering, the universities with degree programmes are: The Università di Roma (power plant engineering); The Università di Pisa (safety assessments); and the Politecnico di Milano (plant engineering and probabilistic safety studies).
Some research activities, experiments and studies, mainly in connection with the above universities and agencies, are still performed at the facilities equipped with research reactors as shown in Table 2.
Table 2. Research Reactor Facilities
|
Site |
Power |
Operator |
Status |
|
Bologna |
100 We |
ENEA/RB3 |
In operation |
Palermo |
20 We |
University of Palermo |
Not in operation |
|
Roma (Casaccia) |
1 MW |
ENEA/TRIGA |
In operation |
|
Roma (Casaccia) |
5 kW |
ENEA/TAPIRO |
In operation |
|
Pavia |
250 kW |
University of Pavia |
In operation |
|
Ispra |
CCR |
Not in operation |
|
|
Ispra |
CCR |
Not in operation |
|
|
Milano |
CESNEF L54M |
Not in operation |
|
|
Padova |
University of Padova |
In operation |
|
|
Pisa |
CISAM |
Not in operation |
In a referendum following the Chernobyl accident, Italy decided to place a moratorium on nuclear power. The moratorium covered both power generation and construction of new nuclear power plants from 1988 to 1992 (though the government has since extended the policy). Since the referendum, the Italian government has sharply reduced funding of fission research. While there is some discussion of lifting the moratorium, the Italian environmental movement has only grown stronger in the decade since the referendum and Italy has shown that it can meet its energy needs without nuclear power. Most of Italy's current fission research is focused on decommissioning the existing reactors, nuclear safety and disposing of nuclear waste. The rationale for continuing to fund fission research despite the moratorium is that:
The National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN) is the main funding source for all types of nuclear energy research in Italy. Oddly however, INFN does not mention fission or fusion research in its detailed five-year plans for its research activities and operations. The Applied Nuclear Energy Laboratory (LENA), which receives funding from the INFN and from the University of Pavia, has a small experimental reactor. LENA's research topics include nuclear safety and radiation protection.
ENEA also conducts research on nuclear safety, radioactive waste and nuclear plant engineering, including depressurisation systems and reactor containment analysis. Ansaldo Nucleare and several universities are also involved in Italy's fission research.
Most of the Italian government's expenditures on fusion are made in collaboration with Euratom, the European Union's atomic energy agency. ENEA has been assigned the task of co-ordinating the Italian part of the European fusion program. ENEA operates three facilities under an agreement with Euratom. The main facility is the Frascati Research Centre near Rome; the other smaller facilities are in Brasimone and Bologna. The Frascati Research Centre employs about 600 people to study fusion physics and develop engineering and technologies for an eventual European fusion reactor. Frascati has projects to develop materials resistant to radiation and high temperature; to construct superconducting and low-temperature magnets; to develop fusion reactor engineering and to study the irradiation of materials. The Frascati Research Centre houses one of the main Italian-based fusion experiments. The experiment, called the Frascati Tokamak Upgrade, is a pilot study of plasma streams with high-density radio-frequency waves.
Other important Italian fusion research includes:
Because the European Union will make a decision in the next few years about whether to continue its major fusion programs in their current form, the Italian fusion research program is also in a state of uncertainty. If the European Union decides not to extend the Engineering Design Activities for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), Italy will need to reshape its fusion program, though there are currently no plans to stop it, regardless of what happens.
Italy and Russia signed in 2003 an agreement allocating €360m to co-operation in the field of nuclear submarine dismantling and safe handling of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste.
The agreement includes projects to dismantle nuclear submarines, nuclear surface ships and service ships, reprocessing, transportation and storage of radioactive waste, the creation of nuclear site physical protection systems, radiation site rehabilitation and the creation of an infrastructure for nuclear submarine dismantling. The Russian Atomic Ministry and the Italian Ministry of Productive Activities are responsible for the project. The agreement is valid for ten years, and extends automatically for two years more if the parties do not cancel the agreement before its expiration.
Italy participates in several international co-operative projects developed under the aegis of the European Community, OECD Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency. In this area, two important research centres must be pointed out: the Joint Research Centre of Ispra and the International Centre for Theoretical Physics in Trieste, a branch of the IAEA. ANPA is participating in the PHARE and TACIS programmes of assistance to Central Europe and CIS countries. Sogin is also deeply involved in these programmes.
In the area of nuclear safety and environmental protection, bilateral agreements have been signed with the NRC (USA), NII (UK), CSN (Spain), N.N.S.A.(China), and D.S.I.N (France).
A noteworthy activity currently in progress in nuclear fusion field, is the participation in the Joint European Torus project.
Italy was among the first countries in the world to use nuclear technology for civil power generation purposes. The Italian history of nuclear technology development can be split into three major periods:
In November 1946, the CISE (Centro Informazioni, Studi ed Esperienze) was founded, with the participation of the elite post-war Italian industries (Edison, Montecatini, and FIAT) and some of the most prominent Italian nuclear scientists. Early on, the purpose of CISE was to lay down the foundations of civil nuclear engineering and, later on, to design a natural uranium fuelled, heavy water moderated test nuclear reactor.
In June 1952, the government established the CNRN (Comitato Nazionale per le Ricerche Nucleari), an agency in charge of developing and promoting nuclear technology. In August 1960, the agency was reorganised and renamed CNEN (Comitato Nazionale per I'Energia Nucleare).
In October 1958, the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant, Latina, began. This 200 MW(e) gas-graphite reactor (Magnox, from magnesium alloy used in the fuel cans) was connected to the electric grid in May 1963. It was ordered by SIMEA, an ENI (Ente Nazionale Idrocarburi) subsidiary, and contracted from the UK Nuclear Power Plant Company (nuclear power plant C). The United Kingdom's Atomic Energy Authority was to offer support for the safety aspects.
In November 1959, construction work for the Garigliano nuclear power plant began. A Boiling Water Reactor prototype was ordered by SENN (Societa Elettro Nucleare Nazionale) from General Electric. In January 1964, Garigliano 150 MW(e) reactor started operation.
The Trino Vercellese nuclear power plant, a Westinghouse PWR with two separate turbine systems, was ordered by SELNI (Societa Elettro Nucleare Italiana), a subsidiary of the Edison group. Construction for the 260 MW(e) Trino Vercellese began in August 1961. It entered commercial operation in October 1964.
A general rule, Law 1860, to regulate peaceful use of atomic energy was issued for the first time in December 1962. This law assigned CNEN the role of the nuclear regulatory body and foresaw the issuance of a subsequent law for the radioactive protection of the population and of workers.
In February 1964, the Italian government issued a complete set of regulations (D.P.R. 230) to cover in detail the different aspects of nuclear safety and radiation protection. CNEN was confirmed as the official regulatory body. However, this responsibility created an inherent conflict of interest between its role as a public promoter of nuclear technology and as a regulator. The safety criteria during the period were adopted from countries exporting nuclear technology (mainly the UK and the USA).
In 1962, after a long political struggle, the electric sector was nationalised and ENEL was established as the sole utility. In 1964, the ownership of Latina nuclear power plant was transferred to ENEL, and in 1966, the Garigliano and Trino units were also transferred to ENEL, hence closing the first period of the Italian nuclear history.
In December 1966, ENEL announced a huge nuclear programme forecasting 12 000 MW of nuclear power by 1980. A year later, in 1967, CIPE (Comitato Interministeriale per la Programmazione Economica), a Committee in charge of co-ordinating the activities of the ministries involved in the country's economic planning and of defining the nuclear programme of ENEL, reorganised the nuclear sector.
Among the most important actors (all state-owned companies) were:
In 1967, an agreement was signed by CNEN and ENEL for developing an Italian version of the Canadian CANDU. This reactor type, called CIRENE, was designed to use heavy water as moderator and boiling water as coolant. In 1972, ANSALDO received an order to build a 40 MW(e) prototype close to the Latina nuclear power plant. CISE actively participated in the design and construction of the CIRENE reactor, which, however, never became operational due to technical problems and a lack of economic resources. Its construction was completed only in 1988.
In 1969, ENEL decided to build a BWR (G.E. BWR 4, Mark 2) on the site of Caorso; one year later ANSALDO, in a joint venture with G.E., officially received the order. The Caorso site construction began in 1970. After several delays in implementing improvements in the suppression pool and bolstering thermal fuel performance, this 860 MW(e) unit finally started commercial operation in 1981.
In 1974, following the Yom Kippur War and the consequent oil crisis, the Ministry of Industry approved a National Energy Plan that foresaw the construction of 20 nuclear power plants in order to reduce the contribution of oil to the Italian energy mix. The main effort during that period was to achieve a certain level of technological independence from the American licenser(s). Political indecision led the industry to spread technical and economic resources over five different reactor types; namely, the BWR of General Electric, the PWR of Westinghouse and Babcock types, the CANDU of AECL, and the indigenous CIRENE.
To attain the goals of the new energy plan, the Italian government in 1973, joined the EURODIF consortium. AGIP Nucleare, a subsidiary of ENI, and CNEN were in charge of providing the country with enriched uranium for fuel fabrication. Meanwhile, in 1972, ANSALDO, in a joint venture with G.E., completed the Fabbricazioni Nucleari (Bosco Marengo) to manufacture the fuel elements for the future BWRs. The plant can produce 100 tonnes of fuel annually. It entered in operation in 1976 and has produced more than 500 tonnes of fuel for the Italian nuclear power stations and Leibstadt nuclear power station in Switzerland.
In December 1973, three major European utilities signed an agreement to build a Superphenix, a 1 200 MW(e) fast breeder reactor in France. A second smaller station was planned in Federal Republic of Germany. The three original partners were Electricité de France (EdF), ENEL and Rheinisch Westfalisches Elektrizitätswerk (RWE). Subsequently RWE was substituted by Schnell-Bruter Kernkraftwerkgesellschaft (SBK), a joint enterprise of RWE, Belgian and Dutch utilities and, to a lesser extent, the British Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). Under the terms of this agreement the NERSA company was created in 1974 to undertake the construction of the Creys-Malville station. EdF's share of NERSA was 51%, ENEL had 33% and SBK 16%. Preliminary work on the Creys-Malville site started in December 1974. The first concrete was poured in December 1976. The reactor began operation in January 1986. In 1983, construction of PEC (Prova Elementi di Combustible) began for testing fast breeder fuel elements. This was intended to strengthen Italy's participation in the Superphenix venture.
In 1976, Montalto di Castro was selected as the site for two new BWRs (G.E. BWR 4, Mark 3). The site permit was issued in 1979, exactly one month before the Three Mile Island incident. This along with the active opposition of the environmental movements, delayed the implementation of the energy plan.
Moreover, ENEL faced increasing difficulties with both its nuclear power stations and conventional power plants in the construction of a transmission system. During the 1980s, the nuclear option became one of the major political issues, almost completely halting all nuclear activities, despite the commitments of several energy plans.
The new National Energy Plan of 1982 reflected mixed attitudes. It called for two nuclear units at Montalto di Castro and six other units on three different sites (Piemonte, Lombardia and Puglia). The plan also identified the development of the so-called PUN (Progetto Unificato Nazionale), a Westinghouse pressurised water reactor as the final reactor type for the country. The most important characteristic of PUN design was to standardise nuclear plant design and construction. ENEA (Ente Nazionale per la ricerca e lo sviluppo dell'energia nucleare e delle Energie Alternative), formerly CNEN, was split into two major branches: ENEA, responsible for research and promotion of nuclear technology; and ENEA/DISP, an independent nuclear regulatory body.
In 1986, a few months before the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, CIPE reaffirmed its commitment for the two BWR units at Montalto di Castro and for the six PUN type pressurised water reactors. However, the impact of the Chernobyl disaster on public opinion was enormous and a general debate on the implications of the use of nuclear energy inflamed a contest in the political arena. In November 1987, three referenda were passed essentially stopping any activity in the nuclear sector.
In December 1987, CIPE halted construction of the Montalto di Castro and Piemonte plants. These were the only two sites where construction work was effectively in progress. A nuclear moratorium period of five years became effective.
In June 1988, the government, by Decree Nos. 230 and 324, ended all nuclear construction. The Caorso reactor, which was shut down in October 1986 for the annual refuelling remained shut down for a complete safety review and assessment. In 1989, an OSART (Operational Safety Assessment Review Team, under the aegis of IAEA) inspection of the Caorso plant was conducted, however despite the positive results of both reviews, CIPE decided, in July 1990 to close down the plant. At the same time the Trino nuclear power plant was closed. The remaining units of Garigliano and Latina had already been closed down in August 1978 and November 1986, respectively.
At the same time ENEA decided to close down a number of facilities relevant to the fuel cycle: IFEC (Impianto di Fabbricazione Elementi di Combustibile), EUREX (Enriched Uranium Extraction), ITREC (Impianto di Trattamento e Rifabbricazione Elementi di Combustibile) and the plutonium plant at its Casaccia Centre. In effect, Italy is currently inactive in the nuclear energy sector.
For additional information on national laws and regulations concerning nuclear power please see the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency's Analytical Study of Nuclear Legislation in OECD countries.
Authorisations related to nuclear and radioactive installations are granted by the Ministry for Productive Activities (MAP), on the basis of the technical advice of the National Environmental Protection Agency (ANPA).
ANPA (previous APAT) is the agency which carries out technical and scientific activities of national interest related to the protection of the environment, and the defence of water and territory resources. It has operational and administrative autonomy under the directives and the control of the Ministry of Environment.
For all nuclear activities, the ANPA acts as the technical body of MAP. Its responsibilities for the licensing process of nuclear installations include:
The Ministry of the Environment is the authority responsible for the decisions in the matter of environmental compatibility of nuclear projects, including the decommissioning of nuclear power stations.
Construction, operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants are governed by:
Act No. 393/75 lays down a special administrative procedure for the prior selection of the site, giving local and regional authorities a large measure of responsibility for environmental protection and land use planning.
In accordance with this procedure, the Inter-ministerial Committee for the Economic Planning (CIPE), after consultation with the ANPA and in agreement with the Inter-regional Advisory Commission made up of the Presidents of the regional governments, decides on the regions where nuclear power plants can be constructed. At the close of this first phase, each concerned region has to indicate at least two areas in its territory where nuclear power plants might be sited.
Once the areas have been selected, the utility is given permission by MAP to proceed with all investigations that are needed to determine whether the areas selected are technically suitable and to decide which area it would propose for the installation. The utility has to submit a detailed report on the proposed site to the MAP, to the concerned regions and to the ANPA, containing a detailed analysis of the features of the site important from the nuclear safety and health protection standpoints.
The report is revised by the ANPA, which, after consultation with the Ministries concerned (Interior, Employment, Public Works, Health and Environment) and the acquisition of the advice of the Technical Commission, draws up a technical report that is forwarded to the MAP.
This technical phase is followed by a decision making phase culminating in a final choice of the site by the region, which is communicated to the MAP.
Once the site has been approved, the MAP authorises the utility to begin preliminary site preparation under the control of the ANPA.
From this point on, the licensing procedure continues along the lines set out in D.Lgs. 230/95.
The utility submits the general design (site and plant) and the preliminary Safety Report to the MAP and the ANPA. The documents must also include a Preliminary Study on the treatment and disposal of radioactive waste.
The ANPA draws up a technical report, which is forwarded to the MAP, and to the concerned Ministries (Interior, Employment, Public Works, and Public Health) for their comments, which are forwarded to the ANPA. The Agency, after consultation with the Technical Commission, gives the MAP its final evaluation concerning the grant of the construction permit.
Before the permit is granted, the applicant must submit to ANPA for approval a list of those parts of the installation relevant for nuclear safety and health protection, whose project must be approved by the ANPA prior to their fabrication and assembly. Also the study on treatment and disposal of radioactive waste must be handed to the European Commission, in accordance with section 37 of the EURATOM Treaty.
Two series of tests (non nuclear and nuclear) must be successfully carried out before the commissioning of the installation.
Before the execution of nuclear tests, the operator must submit a set of safety managerial documents (Final Safety Report, operating procedures, and proposal of technical specifications). The program of nuclear tests is approved by the MAP after consultation with the Technical Commission. Such approval is subject to the Ministry of the Interior's approval of the emergency plan for safety measures in case of an accident.
The operating licence is granted in successive stages by Decrees of the MAP and includes the technical requirements specified by the ANPA.
Decommissioning activities are regulated by articles 55, 56 and 57 of Legislative Decree n. 230/95. They must be authorised by the MAP after a hearing with the Ministries of the Environment, Internal Affairs, Work, and Health, together with the interested region and the ANPA. This authorisation may be granted for single intermediate phases with respect to the last status of the facility.
The subdivision into intermediate phases has to be justified as part of a global plan of decommissioning, to be attached to the request of authorisation connected to the first phase.
For each decommissioning phase, the activities to be performed have to be described, together with their safety, environmental and radiation protection implication as well as the initial and final state of the site and the solution envisaged for waste management and waste destination. The identification and analysis of possible hazards and of accident scenarios for each phase of decommissioning must be addressed in the application, together with implication for the outside emergency plan and proposal for its updating.
All decommissioning activities must be performed complying with conditions and technical specifications laid down in the decommissioning licence. Systems, components and equipment relevant to safety and radiation protection are subject to a general regime of technical specifications and surveillance tests, either specified in the decommissioning licence or, possibly, in the operation licence for the section still in force. The ANPA supervises decommissioning operations and carries out inspections to verify compliance with specifications concerning safety and radiation protection.
The future of the nuclear sector remains uncertain pending the development and acceptance of a new generation of enhanced-safety reactors, even if, the recent energy black-out in Italy caused a new consideration in public opinion about nuclear energy.
Main nuclear policy issues relate to the decommissioning and waste disposal facilities. The ultimate strategic goal, for the former, is unrestricted site release.
On 14 December 1999, the Ministry of Industry outlined strategic choices and plans to manage the problems connected with the closure of all nuclear activities in the country. These guidelines have been submitted to parliament, and have received wide support from both political and technical bodies.
The ministry statement outlines three main goals:
It is worth mentioning that this announcement brings a new approach to decommissioning: in fact, as a consequence of the National Conference on Energy and Environment in the autumn of 1998, the deferred decommissioning strategy (Safe Store) was until this time the adopted and agreed strategy by Enel and the government.
Nevertheless, during 1999 representatives of ANPA (the Safety National Authority) asked for the possibility of an accelerated, preferential consideration of the "prompt decommissioning" option, to take into account dose constraints as well as the need to take advantage of the reactor operational staff still available on the nuclear sites.
The policy for an immediate dismantling was confirmed with a decree of the Ministry of Industry on 7 May 2001. This decree confirmed also the main objectives outlined in 1999 and stated the opportunity that Sogin would collaborate, under a specific convention, with the Ministry for specific items of Ministerial responsibility concerning the siting and construction of the radioactive wastes repository.
Sogin has defined the decommissioning programme according to the new government guidelines. As mentioned before, the target is to reach the complete radiological release of the site within 20 years.
The general programme for all plants has been in principle divided into three phases:
Of course, the objectives of this programme can be reached only if the construction of a national repository is achieved within the due timeframe.
Furthermore, with particular reference to 2003, the following items have to be underlined.
After having considered the increase of risk coming from the present international situation, it has been decided to implement new and urgent actions in order to treat radioactive waste present on Italian nuclear sites and to improve safety and security of the nuclear plants, with the centralisation of the responsibility and control.
The Italian government therefore with a decree dated 14 February 2003, declared a the "state of emergency" until 31 December 2003, in the areas where nuclear plants exist (Lazio, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Basilicata e Piemonte). Furthermore, with a decree dated 7 March 2003, a Commissioner responsible for the safety and the security of nuclear plants has been appointed. This decision can lead to a simplification of some of the licensing procedures for decommissioning activities and to a speed up of the selection of the site for the final repository. Due to this new situation, some authorisations for dismantling activities have been quickly released, apart from the main decommissioning licence, and an agreement among the main bodies involved in the decommissioning activities has been defined (Ministry for Productive activities, ANPA, Ministry of the Environment), in order to co-ordinate and speed up licensing procedures.
For all plants, during 2003, a special effort was devoted to the application for the dismantling and other licensing issues, such as the EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment). In addition, many detailed projects were presented to the Safety National Authority, in particular for: The decontamination of primary circuits of Caorso; The decontamination of steam generators of Trino; The removal of asbestos in different buildings of Caorso, Trino and Garigliano; The demolition of cooling towers building in Caorso; And the evaluation study on graphite removal from Latina reactor, muds and solid waste treatment and removal from Latina.
Latina (160 MW GCR, operated since 1962 up to 1987): The global decommissioning plan for initiating the licensing procedure was presented in February 2002. The plant has been totally defuelled, the primary circuit has been filled with dry air and blowers, portions of the primary circuit outside the reactor building have been dismantled and the removal of asbestos from the turbine building and from part of the reactor building has been completed.
Trino (260 MW PWR, operated from 1965 to 1987): to initiate the decommissioning licensing procedure the global decommissioning plan with a new strategy was presented in December 2001. The reactor has been defuelled and part of the fuel is now stored in the pool of the plant. The removal of asbestos from the turbine building and the demolition of some conventional buildings have been performed. The dismantling of components from the turbine building and the removal of asbestos from the controlled area has been initiated and the dismantling project plan of the nuclear island is complete and awaiting approval (as part of the global decommissioning plan) by the safety authority.
Caorso (850 MW BWR, operated from 1981 to 1986): the reactor has been defuelled and the fuel is now stored in the pool of the plant. On 4 August 2000 the Ministry of Industry issued a decree authorising specific decommissioning activities (dry storage of irradiated fuel, dismantling of the turbine and off-Gas, dismantling of the RHR towers, decontamination of the main circuit, treatment of previously produced waste). All these activities are ongoing.
For other activities the global decommissioning plan was presented on 3 August 2001.
Recently Sogin carried out a deep re-examination of the nuclear power plants decommissioning cost estimates, also with the qualified assistance of international advisors. First assessments indicate a total amount of about €2 600m for the total decommissioning of the four nuclear power plants (at 2001 prices, including fuel and wastes management and disposal costs). An additional €860m are estimated as the cost for nuclear fuel cycle plants decommissioning.
As for funding the decommissioning, in the 1980s, as there were no precise law disposition on the subject, Enel created a fund for the plants decommissioning and a fund for irradiated fuel management. A saving plan has been defined and cumulated funds were transferred to Sogin at the date of its constitution. This amount was adequate to complete decommissioning activities within the safe storage strategy parameters.
Following the separation of Sogin from Enel, a funding mechanism has been defined to provide resources for the additional costs derived from the different economic conditions (new discount rate and taxes), from the management costs for the new company, and from the change in strategy (from safe storage to DECON).
A Decree from the Ministry of the Industry issued in 26 January 2000, states that the above mentioned extra costs for Sogin shall be financed by a levy on the price of sold kWh. Every year Sogin shall present the programme with future activities, and their associated costs. On this basis the national authority for Electric Energy and Gas (the National body which defines tariff policies) shall re-evaluate the levy on kWh due for Sogin over next three years. This re-evaluation will take into account economic efficiency criteria.
The same procedure is foreseen by the Decree in order to finance the dismantling of nuclear installations that were property of ENEA and now co-ordinated by Sogin.
Nuclear energy is not an option at the moment in Italy, and therefore there is no impact by the nuclear sector on the open electricity market.
At the present time, high-level and low-level waste is stored at production sites (Sogin power plants and ENEA facilities). Vitrification and cementation treatments are under consideration for liquid high-level waste, and cementation for solid high-level waste in category III containers for deep storage.
The quantities of energy related waste currently stored in Italy are about 5 500 m3 (almost all of them are 2nd category waste), the estimated quantity of waste deriving from dismantling is about 50 000 m3.
At the present time, quantities of spent fuel stored in Italy are:
|
Property |
Nuclear Power Plant |
Quantities N. elements |
Quantities t HM |
Current Location |
|
Sogin |
Trino |
47 |
14.5 |
Trino |
|
Trino |
49 |
15.1 |
Fiat Avio - Saluggia |
|
|
Garigliano |
259 |
53.3 |
Fiat Avio - Saluggia |
|
|
Garigliano |
63 |
12.9 |
Fiat Avio - Saluggia |
|
|
Caorso |
1032 |
190.4 |
Caorso |
|
|
Enea |
Elk River |
64 |
1.7 |
CR ENEA - Trisaia |
|
Trino |
52 |
2.0 |
CR ENEA - Saluggia |
|
|
Garigliano |
1 |
0.06 |
CR ENEA - Saluggia |
|
|
Various |
0.17 |
CR ENEA - Casaccia |
||
|
Total |
290.13 |
|||
At the moment, while all the fuel of Garigliano and Latina plants is stored away from the reactor (and from the site), spent fuel of Caorso and Trino is still in the reactor pools, whose operation follows the operating procedures valid during the generation period.
In 2003, shipments of spent fuel of the Garigliano plant, stored in a pool away from the site, have started in order to send it to the UK for reprocessing - five shipments have already been successfully completed for a total of 80 fuel elements (approximately 12 tonnes).
Sogin is actively carrying out a project for an interim storage facility on the sites of Trino and Caorso nuclear power plants where residual spent fuel of these plants can be kept safely for several decades pending the governmental decision on final disposal. For the temporary on site storage of irradiated fuel, among the various available technologies, dry storage, inside dual-purpose metallic containers ("cask"), has been chosen.
The Italian electricity market is now fully open to competition. Italy ratified the Kyoto Protocol in June 2002 and launched a national action plan to mitigate climate change in December 2002.
Meeting its climate change mitigation goal is a challenging task for Italy. Despite the target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 6.5% between 1990 and 2008-12, energy-related CO2 emissions have been growing and in 2000 were already 6.5% above the 1990 level. Italy's carbon intensity (measured as CO2 emissions per unit of GDP) is relatively low, it has relatively high energy prices, a low energy-intensive industry structure and a mild climate. These advantages may be eroded by lower prices due to market liberalisation and a growing demand for energy in the transport sector. To reduce emissions, the government is considering the possibility of transforming the existing carbon tax into a tax on actual emissions. The government also approved the "Revised guidelines for national policies and measures regarding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions" on 19 December 2002, identifying specific policies already decided and exploiting flexible mechanisms as foreseen by the Kyoto protocol. It established a Technical Committee for greenhouse gas Emissions (CTE) to monitor progress and to identify and evaluate additional measures. A number of mitigation measures, either domestic or based on the use of the Kyoto flexible mechanisms, remain however to be defined, if Italy wants to achieve its goal. It is also a challenge to define the role of coal in the electricity sector, to strike a balance between climate change mitigation and the energy security need for more diversification. More investment in cleaner coal technologies would be necessary. The government's projection to stabilise energy demand in the transport sector between 2005 and 2020 also seems to be over optimistic. The related report recommends that the government should implement the action plan with least cost measures, without delay and with adequate monitoring. Every available policy tool must be mobilised to meet the Kyoto target, including the tax on CO2 emissions and external projects carried out under the flexibility mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol.
In the framework of international co-operation activities, SOGIN is carrying out consulting and technical assistance activities in the nuclear sector.
A relevant experience in providing consultancy and technical assistance in the nuclear sector, in Eastern Europe and former Soviet Union countries, has been achieved.
In this field SOGIN is presently involved in various projects in the framework of the TACIS Programme, where General On Site Assistance activities are provided. Major ongoing activities are:
In the specific field of decommissioning and waste management, Sogin has a specific know-how on sludge wastes retrieval and conditioning. The technology has been successfully tested in the Garigliano Plant and is now being demonstrated in the Hunterstone nuclear power plant (UK, BNFL). A consultancy activity is ongoing for the decommissioning of nuclear installations of JRC Ispra.
Appendix 1 - International, Multilateral and Bilateral Agreements
Nuclear facts and figures for OECD countries
Number of nuclear units connected to the grid; Nuclear electricity generation (net TWh); Nuclear percentage of total electricity supply.
IEA energy statistics: Italy
Data available in the following areas: Coal, oil and gas use; Electricity production, supply and consumption; Heat production, supply and consumption; Graphs of sectorial final consumption by source in 1973 and 2001.
The Decommissioning and Dismantling of Nuclear Facilities in OECD/NEA Member Countries: Italy
This compilation of national fact sheets is intended to serve as an authoritative source of reference information on individual NEA member countries. In this context, the term "nuclear facility" includes all facilities associated with the production of nuclear power, from mining of uranium, through fabrication of nuclear fuel, nuclear power plant operation, fuel reprocessing and waste management, including related R&D facilities, and research and demonstration reactors.
Nuclear Legislation in OECD Countries: Italy
Regulatory and Institutional Framework for Nuclear Activities
Each country profile in this valuable reference work provides a detailed review of a full range of nuclear law topics. These include: the general regulatory regime, including mining; radioactive substances and equipment; nuclear installations; trade in nuclear materials; radiation protection; radioactive waste management; non-proliferation and physical protection; transport; and nuclear third party liability.
Energy for a Changing World
A website of the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy and Transport.
Nuclear Energy Data
Nuclear Energy Data is the NEA’s annual compilation of essential statistics on electricity generation and nuclear power in OECD countries. The reader will have quick and easy reference to the status of and projected trends in total electricity generating capacity, nuclear generating capacity, and actual electricity production, as well as to supply and demand for nuclear fuel cycle services.
Last updated: 20 June 2007
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