EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE IN THE FIRST SHIPMENTS OF UNIVERSAL CANISTERS CONTAINING COMPACTED METALLIC WASTE COMING FROM TREATMENT

TN International’s experience in designing packages and transporting nuclear materials is part of the AREVA waste management policy. The aim is to reduce waste volume, while maintaining a high level of nuclear and occupational safety and of environmental protection during transportation. Since 1995, TN International has been performing vitrified waste return shipments to Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Japan. TN International has thus developed wide knowledge in cask design, cask licensing and transport management. This experience and the lessons learnt have been used to improve current designs and to develop innovative solutions for compacted waste transport. The first implementation of these solutions was successfully performed in June 2009 for the first return of compacted residues to the Netherlands. Such returns are now planned on a regular basis over the next years.