Republic of Croatia, adopted the National Programme for Radioactive Waste Management in 2018. according to EU regulations.
RW in Croatia includes:
Both are in Zagreb and both have been remediated and shut down, and the waste stored there has been conditioned and stored in containers.
A total of 11.5 m3 RW is stored in these storage facilities.
- low and intermediate level radioactive waste and used sources of ionizing radiation originating from medicine, industry, science, military and public use
- NORM residues
- half of the operational low and intermediate level radioactive waste from the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (Krško NPP) and the waste after its decommissioning
- half of the high level radioactive waste, i.e. spent nuclear fuel from Krško NPP
Both are in Zagreb and both have been remediated and shut down, and the waste stored there has been conditioned and stored in containers.
A total of 11.5 m3 RW is stored in these storage facilities.
This is the type of waste stored in the storage facilities of the Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health (IMROH) and the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI):
- radioactive lightning rods (500 units)
- medical sources (e.g. used in teletherapy)
- industrial sources (e.g. used in industrial radiography and calibration)
- research facility sources (e.g. from a gas chromatograph, spectroscope)
- various medical waste (e.g. needles and tubes)
- luminescent paint (containing radionuclides)
- optical device parts (anti-molding and anti-fogging material)
- radioactive smoke detectors (33,000 units)
Sites with naturally occurring radioactive material residuals (elevated uranium and radium concentrations) in Croatia are the repositories of:
- ash and slag of the Plomin thermal power plant (TPP)
- ash and slag in Kaštel Sućurac
- phosphogypsum near Kutina (Petrokemija).
Until 2015 around 1.110.000 m3 of ash and slag from the operation of the two power plants were disposed at the Plomin TPP site, 900,000 m3 of which came from the Plomin 1 TPP, which used Istrian coal with high levels of uranium and radium in its operation. In Kaštel Sućurac, at the site of the old Jugovinil factory, there is a location with approximately 280.000 m3 of ash and slag, which were products of coal combustion in the factory's thermal power plant.
In 1974, 38.000 m3 of that material was disposed at an on-site repository, and the rest remains to be remediated. A phosphogypsum repository in Kutina is located some 5 km from the “Petrokemija” factory. Phosphogypsum is a white powdery material that remains as a buy-product of phosphoric acid production, and it has been disposed at this site since 1983. The repository covers a 1,6 km2 area, and the phosphogypsum total volume is around 7x106 m3.
In 1974, 38.000 m3 of that material was disposed at an on-site repository, and the rest remains to be remediated. A phosphogypsum repository in Kutina is located some 5 km from the “Petrokemija” factory. Phosphogypsum is a white powdery material that remains as a buy-product of phosphoric acid production, and it has been disposed at this site since 1983. The repository covers a 1,6 km2 area, and the phosphogypsum total volume is around 7x106 m3.
Croatia and Slovenia are co-owners of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (Krško NPP), each with a 50% share.
Pursuant to the Directive 2011/70/Euratom and the Contract between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Croatia is responsible for the disposal of half the RW from the operation of Krško NPP and Krško NPP's decommissioning, which is planned for the year 2043.
Entire operational low and intermediate level radioactive waste created thus far (around 2,500 m3) is stored within Krško NPP.
It is expected that by the year 2043 there will be around 3,000 m3 of RW, and the decommissioning of the plant will create another 3000 m3.
Pursuant to the Directive 2011/70/Euratom and the Contract between the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, Croatia is responsible for the disposal of half the RW from the operation of Krško NPP and Krško NPP's decommissioning, which is planned for the year 2043.
Entire operational low and intermediate level radioactive waste created thus far (around 2,500 m3) is stored within Krško NPP.
It is expected that by the year 2043 there will be around 3,000 m3 of RW, and the decommissioning of the plant will create another 3000 m3.
Spent nuclear fuel from Krško NPP is stored and cooled in a pool within the plant, and its disposal is scheduled for the end of this century.
By the scheduled shutting down of the power plant in 2043, 2,283 spent nuclear fuel elements will be collected, for which dry storage in special containers within Krško NPP is planned.
By the scheduled shutting down of the power plant in 2043, 2,283 spent nuclear fuel elements will be collected, for which dry storage in special containers within Krško NPP is planned.
Ministry of the Interior, Republic of Croatia (MUP) regulates disposal of RW and SNF in Croatia, oversees all facilities and RW and SNF disposal activities, and participates in administrative procedures for licensing and approval of disposal facilities.
MUP is responsible for keeping the public informed on RW and SNF disposal, in accordance with national legislation and international commitments.
The regulating body in the Republic of Croatia competent for administrative procedures for licensing and approval of radioactive waste management facilities is Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Physical Planning Construction and State Assets is responsible for location and construction permits. Other bodies grant approvals as well, each within its jurisdiction.
MUP is responsible for keeping the public informed on RW and SNF disposal, in accordance with national legislation and international commitments.
The regulating body in the Republic of Croatia competent for administrative procedures for licensing and approval of radioactive waste management facilities is Ministry of Interior, and Ministry of Physical Planning Construction and State Assets is responsible for location and construction permits. Other bodies grant approvals as well, each within its jurisdiction.
Fund for Financing the Decommissioning of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant and the Disposal of NEK Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel (the Fund) is in charge of collecting funds for financing the drafting, review and implementation of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and the Disposal of RW and SNF Programme. Also, the Fund is responsible for the development of joint radioactive waste disposal and Krško NPP decommissioning programmes and its revisions as an expert organisation.
Fund is also responsible for the founding and managing of a future Center for Radioactive Waste Management, and for its work it answers to the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
Hrvatska elektroprivreda Inc. (HEP), as Krško NPP's 50% owner, must make deposits earmarked for decommissioning of Krško NPP and RW and SNF disposal to the Fund.
HEP is also responsible for maintenance and supervision of the TE Plomin ash and slag repository.
Fund is also responsible for the founding and managing of a future Center for Radioactive Waste Management, and for its work it answers to the Government of the Republic of Croatia.
Hrvatska elektroprivreda Inc. (HEP), as Krško NPP's 50% owner, must make deposits earmarked for decommissioning of Krško NPP and RW and SNF disposal to the Fund.
HEP is also responsible for maintenance and supervision of the TE Plomin ash and slag repository.