| Syllabus: GS-III, Subject: Science and Technology, Topic: Nuclear technology, Issue: Challenges in handling nuclear waste |
Context: Recently India loaded the core of its prototype fast breeder reactor vessel.
Nuclear waste:
- Generated during fission reactions in reactors when certain atoms absorb neutrons and produce radioactive elements that cannot undergo further fission.
Challenges in handling nuclear waste
- High temperature and radioactivity of nuclear waste require underwater storage initially and later transfer to dry casks.
- Long-term storage of nuclear waste can span millennia, necessitating isolation from human contact.
- Treating and storing liquid waste to prevent environmental contamination.
- Concerns with reprocessing of nuclear waste– it separates fissile from non-fissile materials in spent fuel but also yields weapons-usable plutonium.
- Other Issues with nuclear waste management include containment failures, maintenance challenges, and uncertainties in treatment processes.
- Waste management adds to the cost of nuclear power generation.
Nuclear waste management in India
- India has reprocessing facilities in Trombay, Tarapur, and Kalpakkam.
- India carry on-site management of low and intermediate-level waste generated at nuclear power stations.
