Workshop on the Design Process for Near-Surface Waste Facility

In April 2025, I travelled to Ankara and together with fellow IAEA experts Bernt Haverkamp and Marin Jordanov, ran a workshop for the Turkish Energy, Nuclear and Mineral Research Agency (TENMAK) on the design process for development of a near-surface disposal facility for low level and short-lived intermediate level radioactive wastes. The workshop was organised by IAEA under their Technical Cooperation programme and involved key players from TENMAK, NDK (the nuclear regulatory authority), TÜNAŞ and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources.

Within Türkiye, TENMAK has the responsibility for the safe management of radioactive wastes and in particular, for the development of LLW/SLILW near surface disposal facilities for existing wastes and wastes predicted to arise from two NPP programmes (4 units from Akkuyu under construction and 4 units from the proposed Sinop plant). During the course of the workshop we addressed:

  • Design principles and approaches - referring extensively to IAEA safety standards and guides, as well as international experience and best practice for similar wastes/facilities.

  • Safety case development and information/data requirements and means by which this can be integrated within the design and siting process

  • Near surface disposal concepts and approaches for identification of the optimum solution based upon the national specific requirements and constraints.

The workshop concluded with participants undertaking an optioneering exercise to investigate which of the various disposal concepts available would best meet the needs of Türkiye. The exercise used simplified information and inputs and when weightings and scores were applied, concluded that an above-ground, vault-type facility would be the preferred concept. This it was emphasised should not be taken as the final word: the process should be repeated with appropriate data and with a panel of experts with the necessary wide range of disciplines and expertise.

The workshop wrapped up on Friday 11 April. The IAEA experts made a number of recommendations covering project management and QMS, design development steps, requirements management, siting, inventory and continuing technical support. IAEA experts were thanked for our valuable inputs to the Turkish programme.