Transport of radioactive materials

Transport is an important part of handling radioactive waste in conjunction with its disposal, both internally and on public transport routes.

The specifications of the Swiss federal nuclear safety inspectorate (ENSI) require that even at the stage of requesting approval for a waste type package from the regulatory authority, evidence must be supplied that the transport capability of the waste package to be produced is assured.

Fuel transport from a Swiss nuclear power plant on arrival in the central interim storage facility of ZWILAG.

This ensures that the waste package – possibly with the use of suitable additional packaging – can be transported in accordance with the provisions of the road transport act (SVG) and the directive regarding the transportation of hazardous goods by road (SDR) on public transport routes. For the transportation of hazardous goods by road on national road routes, according to Swiss provisions, also the provisions of the European agreement on the international transportation of hazardous goods by road (ADR) apply. Analogous regulations are valid for other means of transportation.

After decay storage of spent fuel elements in a spent fuel pool, they are transported in suitable transport containers either to the internal interim storage or to the central interim storage. If the transport takes place via public transport routes, a transport permit from the federal office for energy is required. This has a time limitation and must be applied for a suitable period in advance.