Dismantling of the old Radwaste system began at the Garigliano nuclear power plant, in the Municipality of Sessa Aurunca (Caserta), which had been used during the facility’s operations to manage radioactive liquid effluents.
The system is located in a building called RW, over two floors, inside four rooms, and consists of: the supply and discharge pipes, three tanks, already reclaimed in 2023 from the sludge contained inside them, and all the supporting instrumentation.
Because these are contaminated components, Sogin and its subsidiary Nucleco, adapted the systems at the premises (electrical, ventilation, radiological monitoring) before starting work, to ensure safety at every stage of the activity that will be carried out for the most complex parts using cutting robots, specially designed and manufactured, which the technicians will guide remotely. Operations will be completed within the year.
A total of about 50 tons of metallic material will be demolished. Once the smelting and decontamination treatments are completed, it is estimated that only 15 tons of radioactive waste will remain, in line with the company's strategy of minimising such waste, which will be stored at the site's temporary repositories pending their subsequent transfer to the National Repository, once this becomes available.
Sogin implemented and put into operation the new radioactive liquid effluent treatment system in 2022 to ensure continuity of the decommissioning activities underway at the Campania plant.