**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to a Parliament Question regarding nuclear waste management in India, dated December 18, 2023. It outlines the methods for managing nuclear waste generated at nuclear power stations and details India's nearly closed nuclear fuel cycle process. The document claims that waste management practices align with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) guidelines, ensuring no radiation release or impact on the public or environment.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Waste Management Practices:**
* Low and intermediate activity level wastes are managed on-site at nuclear power stations.
* Wastes are treated, concentrated, compacted, and immobilized in solid materials.
* Disposal/storage occurs in specially constructed structures like reinforced concrete trenches/tile holes.
* **Nuclear Fuel Cycle:**
* India follows a nearly closed nuclear fuel cycle.
* Spent fuels from domestic sources are reprocessed to reduce waste and recover useful elements.
* Recovered fissile elements are recycled as fuel for future reactors.
* High-level radioactive waste is vitrified and stored in Solid Storage Surveillance Facilities.
* **Compliance and Safety:**
* A well-established nuclear waste management system is in place at all nuclear power plant sites.
* The "nearly closed fuel cycle" treats spent nuclear fuel as a resource.
* Current Near Surface Disposal Facilities (NSDF) capacities are adequate for waste generated at Nuclear Power Plants.
* Surveillance confirms the disposal system's effectiveness in containing disposed wastes.
* No radiation release incidents have been observed.
* No radiation impact on the public or environment has been observed.
* **Research and Development:**
* R&D efforts are underway for waste management technologies.
* Focus on partitioning technologies for segregating long-lived radioactive constituents.
* Extraction of useful radioisotopes for societal application and waste volume reduction is targeted.
**Impact Analysis**
**Nuclear Power Plants**
* **Impact:**
* The document reaffirms existing waste management practices and outlines future R&D directions.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue adherence to established procedures.
* Support and implement new waste management technologies.
**Public and Environment**
* **Impact:**
* The document assures safety and environmental protection through established and monitored waste management practices.
* **Action Required:**
* Remain informed about nuclear waste management practices and safety measures.
**International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)**
* **Impact:**
* The document demonstrates adherence to IAEA guidelines and international best practices.
* **Action Required:**
* Continue to provide guidance and support for India's nuclear waste management program.
Key Entities Referenced
Nuclear Waste Management: Topic of Parliament Question regarding management and disposal of nuclear waste generated by nuclear power stations in India.
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): Organization whose guidelines are followed for storage and disposal of radioactive waste.
Department of Atomic Energy: The Indian government department involved in this policy area.
Near Surface Disposal Facilities (NSDF): Existing facilities used to store nuclear waste generated at Nuclear Power Plants.
Department of Atomic Energy
PARLIAMENT QUESTION: NUCLEAR WASTE
MANAGEMENT
प्रव तथ: 18 DEC 2025 3:10PM by PIB Delhi
Nuclear wastes generated at the nuclear power stations during their operation and maintenance are low
and intermediate activity level waste and are managed at the site itself. These wastes are treated,
concentrated, compacted, immobilized in solid materials like cement and disposed/stored in specially
constructed structures such as reinforced concrete trenches/tile holes, located at the site.
Further, nearly closed nuclear fuel cycle is being followed in India, where spent fuels from domestic
sources are reprocessed to reduce the waste burden and recover the useful element for recycle/reuse. The
fissile element recovered from reprocessing of spent fuel is recycled back as a fuel for future reactors.
High-level radioactive waste generated during reprocessing is then immobilized into an inert glass matrix
by vitrification and stored in Solid Storage Surveillance Facilities for interim storage at par with
international practices as per the guidelines of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
A well-established nuclear waste management system is in place at all the nuclear power plant sites. India
has adopted “nearly closed fuel cycle”, where spent nuclear fuel is regarded as a material of resource. The
closed fuel cycle aims at reprocessing of spent fuel for recovery of fissile materials and utilization as fuel.
This finally leads to a very small percentage of residual material present in spent nuclear fuel requiring
their management as nuclear waste. The current capacities of Near Surface Disposal Facilities (NSDF) at
existing sites are adequate to store the waste generated at Nuclear Power Plants.
Research and development are being done for new technologies for waste management on partitioning
technologies for segregation of long-lived radioactive constituents including actinides, and extraction of
useful radioisotopes for societal application as well as waste volume reduction.
The practice of storage and disposal of radioactive waste is at par with international practices following
the guidelines of International Atomic Energy Agency. Till date, the surveillance of the disposal areas at
different sites has confirmed high degree of effectiveness of the disposal system for the containment of
disposed wastes. There has been no incident of release of radioactivity from such disposed wastes. No
effect of radiation from disposed wastes on the public or the environment has been observed.
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NKR/AK
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