The BN-350 Reactor Decommissioning: Quantitative Analysis and Prospects for Solid Radioactive Waste Management
Mukhamedov N. Baklanov V. Moldagulov M. Toleubekov K. Surayev A. Yagudin A. Kanatnikov S.
September 2025Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)
Energies
2025#18Issue 17
The BN-350 is the first industrial fast neutron reactor in the history of nuclear energy. It is currently undergoing decommissioning. One of the key challenges of decommissioning is managing the solid radioactive waste that has accumulated throughout the reactor’s operational life. At the moment, the accumulated solid radioactive waste is stored in a storage facility within the BN-350 reactor complex. An analysis showed that more than ~7262 tons with 5.17 × 1014 Bq activity of various types of solid radioactive waste have been accumulated over the reactor operation. They are mainly represented by materials with low activity. At the same time, the main share of activity is comprised of highly active waste with a total mass of ~170 tons and an activity of 4.73 × 1014 Bq. A solid radioactive waste management strategy has been developed. It includes all stages from collection and classification to transportation and long-term storage. Modern technologies now offer new possibilities. Some radioactive waste can be processed and reused in other economic sectors. In particular, recycling metals and alloys can reduce the volume of solid radioactive waste. It can also return valuable materials to industrial use.
BN-350 reactor , decommissioning , electroslag remelting , nuclear energy , solid radioactive waste , waste classification
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Institute of Atomic Energy NNC RK, 10 Beibyt Atom St., Kurchatov, 180010, Kazakhstan
Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Combine, 7 Promzona, Aktau, 130000, Kazakhstan
Institute of Atomic Energy NNC RK
Mangyshlak Atomic Energy Combine
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026