RADIOACTIVE WASTE REPOSITORIES IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC
Introduction
The Czech Republic is among the countries with a long tradition of nuclear energy utilisation and the handling of radioactive materials. Closely connected with this is the issue of the safe storage of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Since the second half of the twentieth century, specialised facilities have been established throughout the territory of the present-day Czech Republic for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste originating from energy production, industry, healthcare, and research. The long-term management of highly radioactive materials remains one of the most significant strategic challenges facing the Czech energy sector.
The management of radioactive waste in the Czech Republic is primarily carried out by the Radioactive Waste Repository Authority (SÚRAO), which was established in 1997 by the Ministry of Industry and Trade. The organisation is responsible for operating existing repositories, ensuring their safety and monitoring, and preparing a future deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel.
History of Radioactive Waste Disposal in Czechoslovakia
The origins of radioactive waste disposal are linked to the development of the Czechoslovak nuclear programme during the 1950s. Alongside uranium mining in the regions of Jáchymov, Příbram, and Dolní Rožínka, research institutions and later nuclear power plants were established. Radioactive waste began to be generated not only through energy production but also through industrial applications of radionuclides, healthcare, and scientific laboratories.
The first specialised repositories were built primarily for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. Their design reflected the technical capabilities and safety standards of the time. Over the years, the facilities were modernised and regulations governing the handling of radioactive materials became increasingly stringent.
A major change came with Act No. 18/1997 Coll., known as the Atomic Act, which regulated the handling of nuclear materials and radioactive waste in accordance with modern international standards. At the same time, the Radioactive Waste Repository Authority was established and assumed responsibility for the long-term management of these facilities.
Richard Repository
The Richard Repository is located near Litoměřice in the former Richard limestone mine beneath Bídnice Hill. The site was selected because of its extensive system of underground tunnels and favourable geological conditions. Operations began in 1964.
The facility is intended primarily for institutional radioactive waste originating from hospitals, industrial facilities, research institutes, and laboratories. It does not store spent nuclear fuel from power plants. The repository mainly receives low- and intermediate-level solid radioactive waste.
The underground spaces are situated approximately 50 metres below the surface. The total length of the tunnels extends for several kilometres, and the utilised sections have gradually been modified to meet long-term safety requirements. The repository is continuously monitored and equipped with systems that supervise radiation levels, groundwater, and rock stability.
The Richard Repository has a capacity of approximately 17,000 cubic metres of radioactive waste. It remains in operation and is one of the most important repositories for institutional waste in the Czech Republic.
Bratrství Repository
The Bratrství Repository is located near Jáchymov within the grounds of the former Bratrství uranium mine. The site is closely associated with the history of uranium mining in the Ore Mountains and the development of the Czechoslovak nuclear programme after the Second World War.
The repository began operation in 1974. It is primarily intended for radioactive waste containing naturally occurring radionuclides, particularly from industry and healthcare. Most of the stored waste has relatively low levels of radioactivity.
The repository uses former mine workings located approximately 500 metres below the surface. Thanks to the stable geological environment, the site is considered suitable for the disposal of specific categories of radioactive materials. Its capacity is smaller than that of other Czech repositories and is intended for a limited range of waste types.
Bratrství represents an interesting example of converting a former uranium mine into a facility for the long-term storage of radioactive materials. At the same time, the site serves as a reminder of the extensive history of uranium mining in the Jáchymov region.
Dukovany Repository
The Dukovany Repository is situated within the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant complex on the border of the Vysočina Region and the South Moravian Region. It was commissioned in 1995.
The facility is used for the disposal of low- and intermediate-level operational waste generated during the operation of the nuclear power plant. Before disposal, the waste is processed through compression, cementation, or encapsulation within specialised waste packages.
The repository consists of a system of reinforced-concrete chambers built below ground level. The structure was designed to withstand long-term climatic influences as well as potential extraordinary events. The site also includes radiation and groundwater monitoring systems.
The total designed capacity is approximately 55,000 cubic metres of waste. The repository was designed for safe operation over several decades and is being expanded as required.
Temelín Storage Facility
Within the Temelín Nuclear Power Plant complex there is a spent nuclear fuel storage facility that forms an important part of the Czech system for managing highly radioactive materials. The facility entered operation during the first decade of the twenty-first century.
After removal from the reactor, spent fuel is cooled for several years in water pools located within the power plant. It is then transferred into specialised CASTOR transport and storage casks that provide radiation shielding and dissipate residual heat.
The Temelín facility is not a final repository. It serves as an interim storage facility intended for long-term but temporary storage of spent fuel until a deep geological repository is constructed. Its capacity is designed to accommodate several decades of power plant operation.
A similar interim storage facility is also located at the Dukovany Nuclear Power Plant.
The Planned Deep Geological Repository
The greatest challenge facing the Czech nuclear programme remains the future deep geological repository for highly radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Such a facility is intended to safely isolate radioactive materials from the environment for hundreds of thousands of years.
The repository is planned to be constructed in a geologically stable rock formation approximately 500 metres underground. Spent fuel will be placed in specialised containers surrounded by bentonite backfill and stored within underground tunnels.
Several potential sites have been investigated in the Czech Republic, including Horka, Hrádek, Březový potok, and Janoch. The selection of the final location remains the subject of long-term studies, geological surveys, and public discussions.
According to current plans, the deep geological repository should enter operation during the second half of the twenty-first century.
Safety and Oversight
The management of radioactive waste in the Czech Republic is subject to strict oversight by the State Office for Nuclear Safety. All facilities must comply with demanding safety requirements established by Czech legislation and international recommendations issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Repository operations include continuous monitoring of radiation levels, groundwater, rock stability, and the technical condition of the facilities. Radioactive waste is recorded, inspected, and stored according to precisely defined procedures.
Although radioactive waste often raises concerns among the public, Czech repositories are among the most closely monitored and technically secured facilities of their kind. Nevertheless, the long-term disposal of highly radioactive materials remains one of the most important challenges of modern energy production.
