The study will examine whether a deep borehole repository could dispose of spent fuel from Slovenia’s Triga II research reactor at the Josef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana. The 1960s-era reactor, one of 66 of its kind worldwide, produces radioactive isotopes for medical research and for training. It is scheduled to be shut down in 2043.
Leon Kegel, head of planning and development at Arao said the organisation is very interested in the potential for deep boreholes to provide a disposal solution for Slovenia’s spent nuclear fuel at a lower cost than in a mined repository.
“We are already studying this at the Krško nuclear station as part of a separate project with Deep Isolation and other Erdo members. The Triga II project will give Arao the opportunity to evaluate the potential for Slovenia’s research reactor fuel.”
Deep Isolation’s deep borehole disposal solution combines established directional drilling techniques with technologies and processes that can be deployed in many geologies. The study will evaluate data about the reactor’s spent fuel, provide cost estimates for a borehole in granite and shale, and provide a timeline.
