The safety and regulatory challenges associated with the geological disposal of higher activity radioactive waste in the United Arab Emirates
File(s)
Author(s)
Alnuaimi, Abdulla Hashem Saeed Altaghi
Type
Thesis
Abstract
This thesis explores the nuclear and radiological safety issues associated with the geological disposal of Higher Activity Radioactive Wastes (HAWs) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), by identifying key safety and technical challenges associated with geological disposal and making suggestions on how some challenges can be overcome to satisfy requirements set by UAE legislative and regulatory bodies.
This thesis addresses the importance of having an HAW inventory management system, the characteristics of radioactive waste, interim storage methodologies, the identification of geological environments suitable to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), the UAE’s geological settings, the performance of engineered barrier systems, radiological risk assessments to future generations, the legal and nuclear regulatory system in the UAE relating to radioactive waste management and siting of a GDF and the organisational requirements for the development of a UAE GDF delivering entity.
The general outcome from the work performed in this Ph.D. project was that the development of a successful radioactive waste disposal program in the UAE is feasible, and computational modelling was used to indicate that the risk to the environment and future generations from the disposal of HAWs in the UAE are expected to be below set regulatory thresholds.
By reviewing international practices in the field of long-term radioactive waste management, it is proposed that the UAE would benefit from implementing a mindset of “the sooner the better” in developing their long-term strategies and management plans to avoid any of the current bottlenecks faced by organisations attempting to deliver such a program. The research presented in this thesis will be of use to the current UAE nuclear energy program and can be seen as forming the preliminary foundations for a HAW disposal program in the UAE.
This thesis addresses the importance of having an HAW inventory management system, the characteristics of radioactive waste, interim storage methodologies, the identification of geological environments suitable to host a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF), the UAE’s geological settings, the performance of engineered barrier systems, radiological risk assessments to future generations, the legal and nuclear regulatory system in the UAE relating to radioactive waste management and siting of a GDF and the organisational requirements for the development of a UAE GDF delivering entity.
The general outcome from the work performed in this Ph.D. project was that the development of a successful radioactive waste disposal program in the UAE is feasible, and computational modelling was used to indicate that the risk to the environment and future generations from the disposal of HAWs in the UAE are expected to be below set regulatory thresholds.
By reviewing international practices in the field of long-term radioactive waste management, it is proposed that the UAE would benefit from implementing a mindset of “the sooner the better” in developing their long-term strategies and management plans to avoid any of the current bottlenecks faced by organisations attempting to deliver such a program. The research presented in this thesis will be of use to the current UAE nuclear energy program and can be seen as forming the preliminary foundations for a HAW disposal program in the UAE.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2022-05
Date Awarded
2022-08
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
License URL
Advisor
Williams, Laurence
Vandeperre, Luc
Publisher Department
Materials
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)