CENTENA - A security and sustainability hub for Brazil
All human activity generates some waste. The same is true for activities that use radioactive substances in various industrial processes, in the production of electrical energy, in health and other applications of nuclear energy. These activities are essential for improving the quality of life of the population and, since adequate protection for future generations is a requirement in responsible societies, a sustainable solution will be implemented for the permanent storage of low and medium-level radiation waste generated in the country. In addition, in view of the growth in the use of nuclear energy and radioisotopes in various areas in Brazil, the National Repository is already a necessity, and is also linked to requirements of the environmental agency.
The CENTENA Project aims to design, build and commission a technology center that, in addition to permanently storing radioactive waste, will have operational support buildings and facilities for research and technological development. The Center will also include the dissemination of activities in the nuclear sector and specialized training.
This Project is the responsibility of CNEN, with CDTN responsible for its coordination. Other Commission Institutes work together with the CDTN, according to their competencies, to better develop the Project.
This Repository will store treated radioactive waste from the use of nuclear energy in Brazil in industry, medicine, research, energy generation and the environment, as well as from the decommissioning of radioactive and nuclear facilities.
The project will occupy approximately 40 ha, including storage areas and all the infrastructure necessary to ensure safety during the operation and institutional storage stages (Figure 1). The deposition areas (Figure 2), whose concept is multiple barriers, are being planned to house the radioactive inventory until 2080. In addition to conventional buildings, CENTENA also has a building to receive, control, store and package treated waste, as well as environmental and radioprotection laboratories to execute the Environmental Monitoring Program (PMA) and the Radiological Protection Plan. In order to ensure public safety and environmental preservation, the waste to be stored must comply with the acceptance criteria defined in the standard and by the safety analysis. The facility is expected to operate for 60 years and remain under surveillance for 300 years after its closure.
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