Sogin in charge of the Ispra-1 reactor dismantling
26 September 2019
Last Thursday, Sogin and the Joint Research Center (JRC) of Ispra (Varese), signed the deed for the definitive transfer to the Society of the Ispra-1 reactor, located inside the Center.
The deed transfers the ownership of the plant to Sogin, implementing the ratification law which entered into force on 22 May this year.
With this signing, Sogin takes the responsibility for the dismantling of a further Italian nuclear plant, in addition to the four nuclear power plants - Trino, Caorso, Latina and Garigliano – and the five fuel cycle research plants – Eurex in Saluggia, Fn in Bosco Marengo, Opec and Ipu in Casaccia and Itrec in Rotondella. This acknowledges the value of the experience acquired by Sogin in decommissioning and radioactive waste management.
The decommissioning activities of the Ispra-1 reactor are scheduled in three phases: preliminary activities, reactor dismantling and final site remediation. These activities will start only after the approval, by the Control Authority ISIN, of the decommissioning application, which will be presented by Sogin within January 2020.
Ispra-1, a heterogeneous thermal reactor of American technology, was built by the National Nuclear Research Council – CNRN, later Cnen and then Enea – between 1957 and 1958, and represents the latest version of the Chicago-Pile research reactors series developed by Enrico Fermi. With 5 MW of power, it was the first research nuclear reactor built in Italy, and operated from 1959 to 1973.