High-Level Radioactive Waste Storage Feasibility for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

With the inception of King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy in the Kingdom, the future of nuclear power looks promising in near future. Although nuclear power will help solve the energy-related issues of the country, however, the high-level radioactive waste has to be stored securely. In this regard, an evaluation of the available geological data has been conducted to determine where the most suitable sites could serve as permanent disposal of radioactive wastes from future nuclear power activities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Also, the volume of high-level wastes expected to be generated have been estimated, so as to access the cost (and size) of such a disposal site. Conclusions are presented, indicating that by the year 2060, the construction of such a disposal site would be economically feasible, based upon a surcharge of 1 mill/kWh for the disposal activities. The site selection is tentative and very preliminary, since actual core drillings and other geologic assessments will be required before a site can be seriously proposed.