DUKOVANY REPOSITORY
The Birth of a Nuclear Complex
When plans were being made in the 1970s to build the first large-scale Czechoslovak nuclear power plant, the area between Třebíč and Moravský Krumlov was selected. Construction of the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant began in 1978, and over time an extensive energy complex emerged that fundamentally changed the character of the entire region.
From the outset, the operation of the nuclear power plant was also linked to the issue of radioactive waste management. In addition to spent nuclear fuel, the operation of the plant produces low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, including filters, protective clothing, metal components, insulation materials, and various technological parts.
It was specifically for these materials that a dedicated repository was built directly within the power plant complex.
Construction of the Repository
The Dukovany repository was constructed at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s. The facility entered operation in 1995.
At first glance, the site appears relatively inconspicuous. Beneath the surface, however, lies an extensive system of reinforced-concrete chambers designed to withstand weather conditions, moisture, and the long-term effects of the stored materials.
The project was developed during a period of significantly increased safety requirements following the Chernobyl disaster. As a result, exceptionally demanding standards were applied to the design and construction of the repository.
How Waste Is Stored
No spent nuclear fuel is stored in the repository. Such fuel is kept separately in dedicated storage facilities.
The repository itself is intended primarily for operational waste generated during the routine operation of the power plant. The materials are first sorted and processed. Some are compressed, others are encapsulated in cement mixtures or sealed within special containers.
Only then are they placed into the reinforced-concrete chambers below ground level. Every stage of the process is carefully documented and monitored.
One interesting fact is that the volume of waste has been steadily decreasing thanks to modern technologies. Today's nuclear industry produces significantly less radioactive waste than it did in previous decades.
The Reinforced-Concrete Underground Facility
The storage chambers themselves represent a highly interesting engineering structure. They are built below ground level and protected by several layers of concrete and insulating materials.
Individual containers are stored systematically according to the type of waste and the level of radioactivity. Once filled, the chambers are sealed and monitored over the long term.
The total capacity of the Dukovany repository is approximately 55,000 cubic metres of waste, making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in the Czech Republic.
Safety and Monitoring
The operation of the repository is subject to strict supervision by the State Office for Nuclear Safety. Radiation levels are regularly measured in the surrounding area, groundwater is monitored, and the technical condition of all parts of the facility is continuously inspected.
The Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant has long been one of the most important energy sources in the Czech Republic, and safety plays a crucial role there. For this reason, the repository is regularly modernised and upgraded in accordance with the latest safety standards.
Dukovany Today
Today, the Dukovany repository forms a routine but often overlooked part of the operation of the nuclear power plant. Nevertheless, it is here that a significant proportion of the materials generated during the production of emission-free electricity ultimately end up.
While the cooling towers remain the dominant feature of the site, another, less visible story of modern nuclear energy unfolds beneath the surface.
Photo Gallery
Photographs of the site and its technologies can be found on the websites of ČEZ and the Radioactive Waste Repository Authority.
