Nuclear, radioactive waste awaiting storage: where are they

Step forward for the identification of the area that will host the national radioactive waste repository. Sogin, in fact, in compliance with the times, sent the proposal for a National Charter of suitable areas (Cnai) to host the infrastructure to the Ministry of Ecological Transition. The document, once approved by ISIN, the nuclear and radiological safety inspectorate, will be made public through a joint decree of the Ecological Transition and Infrastructure ministries. The publication of the Cnai will thus start the candidacy phase: a participatory process by the Regions and local authorities with the aim of arriving at a shared decision on the site. Once the area has been defined, it will take about 4 years to build the warehouse. The National Repository of Radioactive Waste will allow the definitive settlement of approximately 78 thousand cubic meters of low and medium activity waste, the radioactivity of which decays to negligible values ​​over a period of 300 years. Of this waste, about 50 thousand cubic meters derive from the operation and decommissioning of nuclear power plants and about 28,000 from the research, nuclear medicine and industry sectors. Out of the total of 78,000 cubic meters, 45,000 will be produced in the next 50 years while approximately 33,000 cubic meters of waste have already been produced and placed in approximately 26 temporary plants distributed throughout the country. Among these we find the former nuclear power plants of Borgo Sabotino, Garigliano and Caorso, respectively in the province of Latina, Caserta and Piacenza. But there are also the sites of Saluggia, in the Vercelli area, and the deposits of Rotondella (Mt) in Basilicata and of Statte (Ta) in Puglia. Furthermore, the National Repository will also include the High Activity Storage Complex (CSA), for the long-term storage of approximately 17,000 cubic meters of medium and high activity waste.