Jose Cabrera NPP Decommissioning Project started in 2010 and now is its final demolition and site restoration stages. The main objective is to transform the nuclear site in a green field site or in a gray/industrial site.
The implementation of an industrial process during the dismantling activities is a main aspect to succeed and have a feasible, robust and effective result that otherwise would imply a long and more expensive process. Normal time schedule for this activities in foreign countries ranges about 30 years, while the Spanish approach ranges from 5 to 10 years (Vandellos 1 NPP, Ciemat MTR reactor and Jose Cabrera NPP).
Characterization process is vital in order to obtain an industrial process, three main characterization activities are described: Site and Facility Characterization, In Situ Characterisation for Classification and Detailed Characterization for Final Destination. Three main activities are involved for volume optimization of waste: Material release, Large Items, surfaces release and Site restoration.
Different stages in the decommissioning project will be described in order to have a good standpoint on the overall process involved.