Decommissioning Nuclear Power Stations: Challenges and Process

Decommissioning nuclear power stations presents unique challenges, especially with older facilities built without proper consideration for dismantling. These plants, constructed hastily to generate electricity, lack efficient disassembly designs. Dismantling nuclear power stations requires safely removing all hazards, including the nuclear fuel in the reactors. The process of defueling, removing the fuel rods, takes several years and involves cooling the highly radioactive contents in deep ponds before packing them into sturdy casts for storage at a different site. The complexity and cost of decommissioning are amplified by the long half-lives of some radioactive isotopes, requiring structures to be sealed and left to decay over time. Despite ongoing advancements in robotics and careful design, decommissioning and waste management remain ongoing challenges for the nuclear industry.