Safe disposal of nuclear waste

• Nuclear waste is produced by nuclear power plants, such as Koeberg in Cape Town
• Nuclear waste is produced by research and development facilities, such as the nuclear reactor in Pelindaba, west of Pretoria
• Nuclear waste is produced by mining and mineral processing industries
• Nuclear waste is produced by the use of radioactive materials, such as in the medical sector
• Radioactive waste can remain radioactive for a very long time and releases energy in the form of radiation
• This damages living tissue, as it causes mutations in the genetic material of cells
• Because it is do dangerous and can remain radioactive for thousands of millions of years, it is very important to dispose of nuclear waste appropriately
• The main objectives should be to protect the health and safety of people and to prevent air, soil and water pollution
• Depending on the level of radioactivity, nuclear waste is classified into three groups:

  • Low level waste
  • Intermediate level waste
  • High level waste
• Low level waste contains small traces of radioactivity.

  • This waste is compressed and sealed in clearly marked steel drums.
• Intermediate level waste is more radioactive than low level waste

  • This waste is mixed in a particular way with a sand or cement mixture and sealed in clearly marked concrete drums
• The national disposal site for low level and intermediate level nuclear waste in South Africa is at Vaalputs in the Kalahari Desert, Namaqualand. This area was chosen for its extreme isolation and dry conditions
• The nuclear waste is transported to Vaalputs by road, where it is stored in trenches 10 metres underground
• Vaalputs has enough space to store nuclear waste from three power plants the size of Koeberg for 40 years
• The level of radiation at the soil surface at Vaalputs is nearly normal and is in no way considered a health risk, but the site is fenced and monitored for safety reasons
• Low and intermediate level waste is also stored at Pelindaba
• High level waste refers to spent fuels such as uranium, which is used during the atomic fissure process to generate nuclear power
• High level waste contains very high levels of radioactivity
• High level waste's thermal ability distinguishes it from other less radioactive waste
• At Koeberg power station, this high level waste is stored in underwater concreate reservoirs.
• Waste is used as a cooling agent for the nuclear waste and serves as protection for workers at the site.