Rethinking Deep Geological Disposal: Opportunities for Reimagining Nuclear Waste Management Created Through iMAGINE

Long-term disposal and management of nuclear waste is one of the major hurdles for nuclear energy. Deep geological disposal, an idea originating in the 1970s, is currently the preferred path being followed in many countries. However, acceptance of this approach is hindered by societal concerns around the safety of the “one-million years” geological disposal and passing the waste burden to future generations. iMAGINE, an integrated nuclear system based on molten salt fast reactor technology with self-sustained iso-breeding, online clean-up and reverse reprocessing, has been proposed as an innovative way to eliminate the demand for a long-term high-level waste disposal. In this work, we investigate the use of iMAGINE as a technological approach for reimagining high-level nuclear waste management by overcoming the challenges of classical partitioning and transmutation (P&T). After discussing the current status and limitations of P&T along with an overview of the nuclear waste classification and management framework existing in major nuclear power producing countries, we demonstrate the potential impact of iMAGINE in simplifying the disposal of high-level waste. The results indicate that among the key long-lived radionuclides, many lie well below the criteria for requiring deep geological disposal. Besides Finland, India and Russia where most (or all) of the important long-lived fission products exceed current high-level waste thresholds, only two to three fission products (generally with half-lives from 30 to 100 years) exceed the national limits in Canada, China, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea, while concrete conclusions can’t be drawn for the UK and US based on available information. The results presented here do not aim to make inflated claims but should be seen as the scientific basis for deeper discussions amongst all nuclear waste disposal stakeholders to explore a novel technological solution for rethinking high-level waste management and possibly eliminating the need for a “one-million years” geological disposal.