January 16 (SeeNews) - Slovenia's Agency for Radioactive Waste (ARAO) plans to start the construction of a 94 million euro ($102 million) low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste disposal site in 2023, local media reported.
The site, to be located near the Krsko nuclear plant, is expected to start operating under trial mode in 2026, and the issue of a building permit is expected shortly, news agency STA quoted sources from the agency as saying on Saturday.
The first phase of the construction will involve access roads, electricity and other connections and also the launch of an environmental monitoring service, the construction of landfill facilities and external arrangements will be carried out in a second phase, while a third and final phase will consist of the manufacturing and delivery of a gantry lift and lifting equipment, STA reported.
The contractor for the first phase has already been chosen, and the tenders for the second and third phases will be published in a few months.
The site will be used for the disposal of radioactive waste from the Krsko nuclear power plant, and will have a capacity for 990 concrete containers, STA said.
($ = 0.9231 euro)