An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has completed a follow-up mission to assess Spain’s progress in implementing the recommendations and suggestions made during a review of its national radioactive waste management programme in 2018. The team concluded that all recommendations and suggestions from seven years ago have been addressed.

Held from 28 September to 3 October in Madrid, the Integrated Review Service for Radioactive Waste and Spent Fuel Management, Decommissioning and Remediation (ARTEMIS) follow-up mission provided an independent international evaluation of Spain’s progress since the initial ARTEMIS mission conducted in October 2018. 

ARTEMIS reviews offer expert assessments of national programmes for radioactive waste and spent fuel management, decommissioning and related activities, and are conducted under the IAEA’s mandate to support Member States in ensuring safe and effective waste management. The review team comprised five international experts with experience in radioactive waste management and nuclear safety from Australia, France, the Netherlands, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, as well as four IAEA staff members.

The follow-up mission was carried out at the request of the Government of Spain and hosted by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge (MITECO). The team also met with the Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) and ENRESA, Spain’s national radioactive waste management agency, during the five-day mission.

Spain employs nuclear and radiation technologies across various sectors, including energy production, medicine, industry and research. The country currently operates seven nuclear power reactors, which generate approximately 20% of its electricity. In addition, three nuclear power plants have been permanently shut down and are at different stages of decommissioning. Most reactor sites are equipped with interim spent fuel storage facilities. Spain also maintains a disposal facility for very low, low and intermediate level radioactive waste.

The scope of the ARTEMIS follow-up mission addressed the areas where findings had been identified in 2018, including national policy and strategy for spent fuel and radioactive waste management, as well as financing and human resource capacities. The outcomes of the IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) follow-up mission conducted in Spain in February were also taken into account.

The team found that Spain has successfully implemented many recommended actions from the 2018 mission. As a result, the recommendations and suggestions identified in the initial mission were closed.

“The review team acknowledges the major progresses that have been made to successfully respond to the 2018 ARTEMIS  mission findings and, in particular, commends Spain for the issuing of the 7th national plan for radioactive waste and spent fuel management as well as for the elaboration of a new roadmap for the development of a deep geological disposal facility,” said mission team leader Fran?ois Besnus of France.

In its findings, the mission team highlighted the progress made by Spain in: 

• Establishing its 7th General Radioactive Waste plan.

• Addressing the capacity of disposal of low and intermediate level radioactive waste at the El Cabril Disposal Facility. 

• Developing a new strategy for the storage of spent fuel, special waste and high-level radioactive waste.

• Preparing a roadmap for the development of a deep geological repository.

• Ensuring the routine review of the funding mechanisms for radioactive waste management.

• Putting in place a strategy and mechanisms to avoid the loss of knowledge and know-how on radioactive waste and spent fuel management.

• Re-evaluating the adequacy of research and development funding needed to support the step-by-step development of the Deep Geological Disposal programme.

“This ARTEMIS follow-up mission represents an important element in the efforts of Spain to ensure the continuous improvement of our radioactive waste management programme, in accordance with the General Radioactive Waste Plan and the EU radioactive waste directive,” said Victor Marcos, General Director of Energy Planning and Coordination at MITECO. “The outcome of the follow-up mission has been very positive: all five recommendations and the two suggestions have been closed, and, in addition, the review team has provided us with some observations that will be a good basis for future developments.”

The final report of the mission will be provided to the Spanish authorities within three months.

About ARTEMIS

ARTEMIS is an integrated expert review service for radioactive waste and spent fuel management, decommissioning and remediation programmes. This service is intended for facility operators and organizations responsible for radioactive waste management, as well as for regulators, national policy makers and other decision makers.

The IAEA Safety Standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements, and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation. Additional IAEA documents such as Nuclear Energy Series publications can be included in the review basis. They include practical examples to be used by owners and operators of utilities, implementing organizations, academia and government officials in Member States, among others.