The maturity (1990s, 2000s)

Abstract

This chapter expands on the very concept of industrial maturity, first in general, then as applicable to nuclear decommissioning. It is assumed here that industrial maturity in decommissioning was reached when a number of large commercial facilities were fully decommissioned to the extent that their site could be released for unrestricted use- the very objective of decommissioning. The chapter also includes a section about the renewed international interest in reactors that had been shut down and dormant for many years with a minimum of surveillance and maintenance, and no decommissioning plans. Appendices to this chapter highlight the evolution of certain critical aspects, namely: the progressive nature of the decommissioning plans, with a special regard to design to facilitate decommissioning; the role of research reactors in the development of nuclear decommissioning; the development of Very Low Level Waste (VLLW) disposal sites as an aid to expediting decommissioning.