Progress and Challenges of Radioactive Waste Management in Thailand

Abstract

In 2016, the Thai government established a new Act, the Nuclear Energy for Peace Act. As a result, various regulations, requirements, and guidelines regarding radioactive waste (RW) management were established under the Act. The waste management activities conducted by the waste operator were carefully reviewed and demonstrated regulatory compliance. The operator can deal with the waste that currently exists. However, to maintain continuity for the safe and sustainable management of the waste, it is necessary to overcome various challenges, such as the decommissioning of the disused facilities that will be released from regulatory control. The contaminated metals require special attention, because they are increasing rapidly. The use of melting treatment technology and the monitoring of the radioactive contamination in materials might be a solution to reduce the quantities of these metals. The presence of cesium-137 (Cs-137) contaminated dust from steel production factories is a concern due to the large volume. No decision on the management of the dust has been made. However, researchers are now carrying out experiments to determine methods to deal with it. In addition, the operator should consider important issues, such as the development of an additional storage facility to support the decommissioning of waste and the dust waste, and the reuse and recycling of disused sealed radioactive sources (DSRS). This paper will discuss the aspects of waste disposal, the strategic plans that deal with the challenges, and naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORMs).