Tunnelling industry expands cooperation on waste repositories

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) met in Vienna on 26 September. The delegation from IAEA led by Olena Mykolaichuk, Director of the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology, met with Daniel Garbutt, Arnold Dix, Helen Roth and Andrea Pigorini of the ITA to explore future collaboration in the development of geological disposal facilities (GDFs) for higher activity radioactive waste.

This cooperation builds on the IAEA's recent work - developed with substantial support from the ITA - that resulted in a draft publication that is focused on managing the transition to accessing the underground for GDFs, led by Scientific Secretary Gerald Nieder-Westermann, IAEA officer in the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology. The draft is currently in the publication process at the IAEA.

The ITA has now launched a dedicated special interest group, established in close cooperation with the IAEA, to help industry better understand the specific requirements of GDF development. Through this initiative, both organisations will provide Member States with the knowledge and technical support to effectively deliver and maintain the underground infrastructure needed to provide for the safe disposal of radioactive waste.

"This work will support bridging the gap between safety case and engineering realities, underlining the importance of engaging with the tunnelling and underground construction community," ITA said.

"For ITA, this initiative represents a significant opportunity to contribute our global expertise in underground engineering to one of the most critical and enduring tasks of our time," said ITA President Andrea Pigorini. "We are committed to contributing our underground expertise to help shape solutions that will protect people and the planet for generations to come."

The ITA initiative will foster cross-border knowledge exchange, promote best practices in underground construction, and support repository designs that serve future generations. Arnold Dix, a past president of ITA, has been announced as Chair of the new initiative.

"The ITA remains committed to advancing safe and resilient underground solutions and looks forward to working together with the IAEA in supporting the international community for the successful development of Geological Disposal Facilities worldwide," ITA said.

Founded in 1974 by the initiative of nineteen nations, the ITA mission is to lead, advocate and facilitate the development of sustainable and innovative solutions for increased, optimised, safe and equitable use of underground space. The organisation currently has 81 Member Nations and 300 Corporate or individual Affiliate Members.

A geological disposal facility comprises a network of highly engineered underground vaults and tunnels built to permanently dispose of higher activity radioactive waste so that no harmful levels of radiation ever reach the surface environment. Countries such as Finland, Sweden, France, Canada, the UK and the USA are pursuing this option.