belgoprocess | sustainability report annual report | 2010 · dessel, 2 june 2010 prof. dr. ir....
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Belgoprocess | sustainability report • annual report | 2010
Belgoprocess’s operations focus on each stage of the processing and storage
of radioactive waste, on decommissioning and decontamination, and on all
other related services.
Belgoprocess’s aim is to perform all these activities while safeguarding
the safety of its employees and of the population as a whole, with full
consideration for the environment, and by reducing the adverse effects of
its operations to as low a level as reasonably achievable (ALARA).
The activities are carried out in accordance with the standards, legislation
and licences of the Competent Authority and within the requirements
imposed by Belgoprocess. They are in compliance with the strategy
formulated by NIRAS, with due observance of the limitation of the available
resources.
As one of the means to achieve this goal, Belgoprocess operates a sound
and integrated Quality, Safety and Environmental policy.
The main objectives of this policy are:
• Achieving and maintaining a sufficient quality standard of the services
provided, in accordance with the regulations imposed by the client and
the company’s management bodies;
• Ensuring that the number of industrial accidents and collective radiation
doses is kept as low as possible through the creation of a safe and healthy
working environment, for both the nuclear and conventional aspects of the
work. This involves applying the prevention hierarchy during analysis of
the working environment: risks are avoided as much as possible, or if they
cannot be avoided, they are minimised, collective protective measures
have priority over individual measures and, finally, risk situations are
identified and staff are trained to perform their tasks in a safe manner.
Special attention is given to the five disciplines of the welfare legislation
(work safety, occupational medicine, occupational hygiene, ergonomics
and psycho-social aspects);
• Aiming for “zero-impact” emissions: the absolute minimisation of the
environmental impact of the activities on the environment. The discharge
of contaminated substances in the water and emissions to the air are
reduced and minimised. With the aid of an environmental monitoring
programme, Belgoprocess demonstrates that it monitors the impact
on the environment and ensures that this impact is indeed negligible.
Belgoprocess also wishes to minimise the production of secondary waste.
When it is not possible to avoid the production of waste, the company
tries to achieve maximum recycling. In all its activities Belgoprocess is also
committed to communication with everyone involved. The environment is
a consistent area of attention for the employees. An open and transparent
dialogue with the community, the competent authorities and other stake
holders is an essential part of Belgoprocess’s business practice.
• Seeking to continuously improve the quality, safety and environment with
the direct involvement of all employees and accompanied by strong and
active management.
In order to implement this policy, Belgoprocess uses a bespoke management
system which consists of an organisation structure, responsibilities,
processes, process descriptions and other matters. The management
system is in accordance with the international standards ISO-9001, ISO-
14001, OHSAS-18001 and ISO 17025 and wants to seek full compliance
with the IAEA GS-R-3 recommendations in the future. The board ensures
that the operation and coherence of the management system is maintained
when changes to the management system are planned and implemented.
By signing this Declaration, the Management of Belgoprocess undertakes
to do its utmost to maintain the management system as described in this
handbook and to regularly evaluate its results.
Dessel, 2 June 2010
Prof. dr. Ir. Walter Bogaerts,
Chief Executive Officer
Statement from the management
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cont
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Securing the long-term future of Belgoprocess 4
Added value 2010 7
Belgoprocess: a prof i le 13
Sustainable management of basic act iv i t ies 17
A proact ive safety pol icy 25
Environmental pol icy 29
Enterpr ise on behalf of man and society 37
Finance 43
Contents
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4 Belgoprocess has been a strong, modern company for over a quarter of a century. Naturally, we hope to stay that way in the future. In
order to secure a prosperous long-term future, every company must be prepared to change with the times. That is no different for a waste
processing company such as ours with the specialist task of processing and managing radioactive waste. Keeping the finger on the pulse,
anticipating and responding to new trends… these are the trademarks of sound, proactive and sustainable enterprise.
These changes and trends have a clear impact on radioactive materials management and nuclear dismantling activities. Major challenges in the
sector include the supply of waste materials to be processed, on-going dismantling activities at our own site, new decontamination assignments
and new tasks such as storing low radioactive waste in Dessel and last but not least, rising demand abroad for our services and expertise.
Technical and financial resources, in turn, must keep up with these challenges. More than ever, our employees are the most important asset
within our company. Our HR policy has for years endeavoured to achieve an optimal deployment of the competencies of all, nearly 300, of
our employees. In this respect, training, incentives and coaching have formed the backbone of continuous action. These competencies must
be efficiently managed within the context of structured consultation with all employees involved and their respective organisations. Together
with the activation of existing knowledge, this policy is designed to enable Belgoprocess to successfully tackle the challenges of the future.
We have been convinced for years that we possess exceptional expertise which has been the focus of considerable interest both at home
and abroad. 2010 generated an impressive list of commercial opportunities, completed international projects and promising prospections on
the waste materials market. Moreover, 2010 was the year of the long anticipated breakthrough in the case file relating to the processing of
foreign waste. It is important that we tap into this market for foreign waste while also valorising our expertise by pursuing more commercial
projects in the future. They both play their part in securing the long-term future of our company.
Finally, our company’s operations in 2010 were thoroughly analysed across a number of domains. The majority of the attention went to the
Securing the long-term future of Belgoprocess.
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audit carried out by the FANC – Federal Agency for Nuclear Control – in October with regards to our safety management. The conclusion
was – contrary to what was suggested by some sources – positive: according to the agency, our company has ‘well functioning installations
which are operated safely and professionally.’ The attention items listed by FANC, which are in line with future international norms, present a
realistic challenge for our company. They have been translated into an ambitious action plan to be implemented over the coming years aimed
at continuous improvement in raising the level of safety. This ambition will also secure a long-term future for Belgoprocess. In this respect, as
with our entire programme, we hope to be able to count on the strategic support of the members of our board of directors.
Robert Vandenplas Walter Bogaerts
Managing Director Chief Executive Officer
Robert VandenplasManaging Director
Walter BogaertsChief Executive Officer
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In 2010 a new HR policy was launched at Belgoprocess designed to optimise the capacities and dedication of the company’s nearly
300 employees in the context of modern management. This HR policy should ensure that the company can perform its most important
social task – the processing, dismantling and decontamination of nuclear assets and the processing, conditioning and interim storage
of current radioactive waste materials in Belgium – in the safest and most economically responsible manner. 2010 was also the year in
which Belgoprocess lent form to its ambitious objective to valorise its unique knowhow in the domain of processing radioactive waste
materials in the form of commercial projects. In any case, it generated an impressive list of commercial opportunities, actual contracts
and promising prospects. 2010 also saw the long awaited breakthrough in the case of processing foreign waste materials. This case, which
had been dragging on for around five years, was finally rounded off this year in the form of a contract for the processing of 120 tonnes
of German medical waste. For Belgoprocess, this first contract is merely the beginning of our prospection activities on the international
waste processing market, which will hopefully result in even more contracts in the future. In any case, it has generated many promising
perspectives for maintaining current employment levels. Finally, 2010 was definitely also the year of the audits. The company’s activities
were subjected to a thorough evaluation across a very large number of domains. These audits were required for renewing our existing
quality certificates. The results of a thorough-going audit by the FANC have reinforced Belgoprocess's ambition to continue to increase
safety levels within the company as part of an on-going commitment to continuous improvement.
Added value of 2010
In 2010, phase 2 of the demolition of Eurochemic was terminated.
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The Board of Directors reconfirmed the following vision for Belgoprocess on 21 September 2010:With a view to securing its long-term future, Belgoprocess's current vision will focus on three essential elements:
1. Fulfilling its nuclear operational tasks in an extremely prudent and economically responsible manner; this also demands the faultless operation
of the entire series of 'support departments' (including the safety department);
2. The maintenance and development of the company’s technical knowledge and know-how with regards to its core business; including
ensuring the availability of state-of-the-art industrial nuclear facilities and equipment;
3. The development of new markets at home and abroad by valorising the company’s expertise with a view to help securing the company’s
long-term future and to secure employment.
Fulfilling our nuclear operations tasks NIRAS remains our largest client.
Once again in 2010, assignments in the framework of the five year programme concluded with NIRAS for 2009-2013 were by far the most
important activities carried out by Belgoprocess. This task package primarily comprises the further processing, decontamination and dismantling
of nuclear material and radioactive waste materials in Belgium. As such it represents 90 to 95% of Belgoprocess's total activities. The results
of the 2010 processing programme are very positive. All planned assignments were carried out in full. The company’s processing equipment
also remained operational throughout the year. In anticipation of the large processing programme, the PAMELA installation was in constant
operation with three daily shifts and processed 150% of the scheduled programme.
Positive financial result
The 2010 financial year was closed with a positive result: ¤3.61 million profit before tax. This positive balance demonstrates that the company
is and has been financially sound for years. This profit has been added in whole to the transferred reserves. The Belgian government decided in
2009 that a previously granted loan for working capital deemed to be repaid earlier than originally agreed. The amount borrowed (¤5.3 million)
was originally only payable in 2018 but was repaid in full in 2010.
Recommencement of nuclear transport
A first load of ‘compacted radioactive waste’ arrived at Belgoprocess from La Hague (France) on 17 June 2010. It was a shipment of medium-
active, long-life waste originating from the reprocessing of used nuclear fuel from the nuclear plants in Doel and Tihange. The containers were
stored in building 136 for which a new section (zone D) was especially modified. This new series of shipments comprises so-called ‘compacted’
waste whereby the volume is significantly reduced by means of compacting. This first shipment took place under optimal safety conditions.
Another eight such shipments will take place over the next three years.On June 17, 2010 a first batch of "compacted radioactive waste" from La Hague (France) arrived at Belgoprocess.
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The dose rates remain very low.
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‘Visual inspection programme’ completed
The so-called visual inspection programme has been implemented at Belgoprocess on behalf of the federal government over the past 7 years.
This programme involves the inspection and documentation of any discrepancies for each individual barrel of conditioned waste stored at
Belgoprocess. In recent years, the barrels containing low-active conditioned waste stored in buildings 150 and 151 were first subjected to a
thorough inspection and evaluation as prescribed by the programme. In 2010, this programme was rounded off with an inspection of the
barrels of medium-active waste stored in building 127.
Eurochemic demolition, phase two
In 2010 phase two of the demolition of Eurochemic was completed. The central section of this former processing plant was released in full for
conventional dismantling. The demolition was completed on schedule without any safety incident or accident and within the forecast budget.
As a result, 2/3 of the factory has now been completely demolished. The next phase involves the demolition of the last part of the factory.
These compartments are as of today virtually empty and will soon be released for demolition, which is scheduled for 2013.
New HR policy now at full speed
Belgoprocess's new HR policy is in full operation. The company’s innovative approach to personnel management is based on two key concepts:
job descriptions and competence management.
A full, written job description is now compiled for each existing and future position at Belgoprocess, including job content, tasks and the
prerequisite competencies for carrying them out safely and efficiently. The aim is to gain knowledge of those employee competencies already
in place while stimulating their further development in the future. This should lead to a more professional execution of our assignments.
Competence management also encompasses the setting up of various training programmes.
The new HR policy has lead to four core competencies required of every Belgoprocess employee:
1. Safety awareness
2. Cooperation
3. Efficiency and continuous improvement
4. Integrity/reliability
Care statistics:
• Only six work-related accidents occurred within the company in 2010. As a result, Belgoprocess's total accident rate remains very low.
• The exposure figures also remain low but are nonetheless slightly higher than last year as a result of the activities related to the dismantling
of Belgonucleaire.
In 2010 the first ‘focus project’ was launched on the topic of dismantling. The project forms part of SAVE (active together for safety
and efficiency). A second SAVE project was also launched in 2010 on the topic of ‘maintenance activities’, a deliberate choice given the
multidisciplinary and multi-departmental nature of these operations. Maintenance teams are active in every department and every process
in the company. It has been observed that the majority of work-related accidents occur during these maintenance works. The current work
methods have already been analysed and a number of recommendations made with regards to improving general practices. The beginning
of a list of targeted objectives has been drafted which will result in an action plan in 2011.
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In 2010 the visual inspection programme was terminated.
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2010: a year of audits
Belgoprocess’s operations were subjected to a number of audits in 2010 across a variety of domains. Concretely, the various follow-up audits were
required for the reissue of the quality certificates ISO-9001 (Quality), ISO-14001 (Environment) and OHSAS-18001 (Safety). There was also a
pre-audit for additional certification (ISO-17025) for the lab. All these audits were supported with enthusiasm. By far the most comprehensive
audit was that carried out in October by FANC – the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control. The audit took 5 working days to complete from 18 to
22 October during which time all of Belgoprocess’s divisions were examined. The basis of this audit was the so-called GS-R-3 requirement of the
International Atomic Agency. This international standard is not yet applicable as of today but will in the future require that all companies in the
nuclear sector implement a management system for nuclear safety, aimed at continuous improvement. During the examination, FANC concluded
that such a system of continuous evaluation and improvement was already partly in place at Belgoprocess. Naturally, a number of attention
areas arose, as can be expected of such a thorough-going audit. With a 'strategic safety project' comprising 35 action items, Belgoprocess is
committed to satisfying FANC’s expectations and will gradually increase the level of safety within the company over the next few years in the
spirit of Belgoprocess’s commitment to continuous improvement.
Participation in surface storage project in Dessel
Belgoprocess provided a number of services during
the execution of NIRAS’s comprehensive ‘Surface
storage of low-active waste materials’ project in
Dessel. These services comprised, among others,
safety evaluations and environment supervision
programmes. Belgoprocess's own project in the
framework of this surface storage – namely the full
operation of the IPM building or Installation building
for the Production of Monoliths – is well on schedule.
License applications and all preparatory documents
for drafting a safety file have since progressed.
Developing new markets at home and abroadBreakthrough in processing foreign waste
After five years of perseverance, Belgoprocess signed its first contract in 2010 for the handling of a shipment of foreign – in this case German –
waste. The case of foreign waste processing has a long history. Back in June 2006, the ministerial council at the time concluded that Belgoprocess
was permitted to process foreign waste with a number of strict conditions. Over the course of the next two years, Belgoprocess translated these
conditions into a series of procedures and regulations together with NIRAS. Belgoprocess subsequently prospected the foreign market, initially
focussing on Germany where a potential customer had been found. The partnership was approved in 2010 by the inspectors and finalised in the
form of a contract. The contract is for the handling of a total of 120 tonnes of low-radioactive, flammable waste originating from the medical sector in
Design of the cement plant in the future IPM-building.
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Germany. During a trial period, an initial 15 tonnes will be processed in order to demonstrate the ‘feasibility’ and to verify whether all procedures can
be applied seamlessly. The incineration will take place at the CILVA site and will be spread over a period of two years. The remaining waste materials
will then be returned to Germany. This first contract represents something of a breakthrough for Belgoprocess. The company shall demonstrate
that it is perfectly capable of satisfying the conditions and that the activities will not have any significant impact on safety or the environment. It is
an equally important case with regards to maintaining employment opportunities. Because the incinerator capacity is still not optimised with this
assignment, there is still room for others. Belgoprocess will therefore continue to prospect the foreign waste materials market in the coming years.
Dismantling of Belgonucleaire, second phase
Neighbouring company Belgonucleaire has hired Belgoprocess's services for the dismantling of the former MOX factory. This project, which comprises project
management and the dismantling of glove compartments, remains the most important assignment Belgoprocess has realised outside its walls. The demolition
reached phase two in 2010 and has been carried out on schedule and without a single accident or incident. The contract runs until 2013.
Foreign assignments
In 2008, Belgoprocess was awarded an assignment for the construction of a plasma oven in Bulgaria and a conventional commercial nuclear
incinerator in Ukraine. The engineering – the design – of these installations was completed in 2010. The basic concept has also been finalised
and approved by both clients. Both installations are scheduled to commence operation in 2013. In addition, the decontamination of encased
sources, including those originating from hospitals in Abu Dhabi, has also been carried out. These three international projects are part of a
deliberate plan to valorise Belgoprocess's existing expertise with commercial assignments.
Retaining and developing technical knowledge and know-howIn order to consolidate and develop the company’s technical knowledge and know-how, Belgoprocess specifically targets those projects with
the potential to offer added value in the future. In light of this, Belgoprocess has conducted research in 2010 in four main domains:
• Development of a radon selective filter. Such filters offer a solution to the problematic build up of pressure in barrels with conditioned waste
material contaminated with radium.
• Investment analysis for a plasma oven for low-active waste. Belgoprocess conducted an investment analysis in collaboration with the Vlerick
Leuven Ghent management school with regards to this innovative waste processing technology.
• Conversion of UO2F
2 to U
3O
8. UO
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2 is recuperated during the cleaning of UF
6 transport containers. Belgoprocess investigated the possibility
of converting this UF6 into U
3O
8 in order to recycle the uranium. An experimental laboratory unit was constructed and an extensive test
programme carried out.
• Research into the chemical composition and hygroscopic nature of bitumen salts. This research is important for predicting the long-term behaviour
of bitumen barrels.
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Design of the plasma furnace in Bulgaria.
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Founded in 1984, Belgoprocess is a limited liability company with its registered office in Dessel. Since 1986, it has been a subsidiary of the
National Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Nuclear Fuels (NIRAS). NIRAS was itself set up by Act of Parliament (8/8/1980)
and by Royal Decree (3/30/1981). From NIRAS, Belgoprocess receives the task of processing the radioactive waste that is produced
in Belgium and that is not processed by the producers themselves. All the conditioned waste is also stored by Belgoprocess while it
awaits disposal. Belgoprocess also provides services to other customers in Belgium and abroad. It currently performs these tasks with a
workforce of nearly 300 employees. Belgium, a small country with a sizeable nuclear programme, has opted for the centralised processing
and management of its radioactive waste. This ensures uniformity of management and policy, which improves definitely the benefit of
quality assurance and control.
Socially responsible enterpriseNuclear power now accounts for over half of the electricity produced in Belgium. Radioactivity also plays an important role in health care
and in industrial and scientific applications. All these activities produce a residual quantity of radioactive waste materials that require special
handling. Belgoprocess acts as the final link in the chain, ensuring that this radioactive waste is processed and stored in such a way as to
minimise the risk of harmful effects to man and the environment. In concrete terms, this means that choices are made which ensure the safe
management of radioactive waste and which also minimise costs. Only through the achievement of the dual objectives of cost control and
safe management can the interests and expectations of society be upheld and satisfied. Radioactive waste is safely processed and managed
in a manner that is both ecologically and economically responsible. These producers bear the cost themselves of processing and subsequently
Belgoprocess: a profile
Reception area of the CILVA installation.«
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storing the radioactive waste that they produce. For the processing of radioactive waste from the past and the dismantling of old installations,
the network administrator levies a supplementary charge on electricity (kWh) consumed in Belgium. This money is paid into a fund that is
managed by NIRAS. Supplying objective and transparent information about the management of radioactive waste in Belgium and the role of
Belgoprocess is an essential and obvious element of the social task that Belgoprocess is required to fulfil. This sustainability report aims to
contribute substantially to this.
The clienteleApart from a small number of services to other customers, Belgoprocess's Belgian clientele is represented by contracts with NIRAS. These
contracts with NIRAS account for a significant part of the turnover. Nearly half of the financial value of the contracts with NIRAS relates to the
management of installations. The group of waste producers pays the remaining proportion of the installation costs. Another part of the orders
from NIRAS consists of decommissioning and decontamination assignments, studies and projects and tasks related to waste management.
A smaller part consists of various other assignments within Belgium and of foreign consultancy and engineering contracts. This harnessing
of know-how and resources is still limited, but will be of more strategic importance for the company’s long-term development. The opening
for the processing of foreign waste in Belgium adds a new dimension to this sustainable enterprise strategy.
Brief overview of activitiesThe choice in favour of centralised processing and management means that all radioactive waste produced in Belgium ultimately comes to
Belgoprocess. Radioactive waste materials are received from nuclear power stations, hospitals, laboratories and industry. The purpose of
processing these waste materials is to protect people and the environment against the potentially harmful effects of radioactivity, both now
and in the future. To achieve this objective, Belgoprocess ensures that the raw and heterogeneous waste is converted via a series of treatment
and conditioning processes into a compact and chemically stable final product. Compliance with the conditions of federal and regional
licences, which are based on strict international radiological and environmental standards, ensures that the environment is protected. To this
end, Belgoprocess has the best available technologies and installations, which are all situated in the municipalities of Dessel and Mol. While
waiting the exploitation of a disposal site, the processed and conditioned waste materials are temporarily stored aboveground.
Belgoprocess's current activities can be divided into two core areas. Firstly, there is the processing, conditioning and temporary storage of
radioactive waste. Secondly, Belgoprocess is responsible for the decommissioning of deactivated nuclear installations.
Safe processing and storageRadioactive waste materials are sorted at source in accordance with NIRAS’ instructions. The physical and chemical properties determine the
type of treatment that can be used. After solid waste has been sorted, incinerating or compressing the waste materials reduces its volume.
All waste water is collected in tanks and reduced to a small volume of sludge by means of chemical or thermal treatment. The residue of the
waste materials is then encased in cement or concrete, and formerly also in glass, and packed in steel drums. These drums are temporarily
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Crushing of concrete granules in a ball mill.
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stored in concrete constructions that provide a screen against the radiation. These drums will later be permanently disposed of in a stable
layer, where the radioactivity will diminish over time.
Decommissioning of installations Nuclear installations that are no longer used need to be decontaminated and dismantled in a safe and responsible manner. This means that
all radioactive materials are removed. If necessary, concrete walls are carefully stripped down. During decommissioning, Belgoprocess aims to
recycle the large majority of the decontaminated buildings and plants as non-radioactive raw materials in order to subsequently transform the
small quantities of radioactive materials into the smallest possible quantity of radioactive waste. When buildings are cleansed of radioactivity,
they can be dismantled using conventional methods.
Belgoprocess is decommissioning installations that belonged to the former reprocessing plant Eurochemic in a safe and responsible manner.
Eurochemic was the first non-military plant in Europe where irradiated nuclear fuel was reprocessed. Operations ceased at the plant in 1974.
In addition to the Eurochemic installations, Belgoprocess is also decommissioning other installations that have been shut down, most of which
are located at the Belgoprocess site in Mol-Dessel.
Disposal of wasteAs a nuclear operator, Belgoprocess already has the right organisational structure and the necessary competencies to extend its activities to
include the operation of disposal sites. Such sites enable radioactive waste to be permanently removed from the biosphere, so that radioactive
waste represents no further problem for future generations. The political decision concerning the final disposal of conditioned short-lived low
and intermediate active waste was taken in 2006. Belgoprocess participates actively in the near surface disposal project, amongst others
in terms of the safety aspects. In this context, Belgoprocess is responsible for the construction and the operation of the facilities for the
production of monoliths.
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Belgoprocess aims to recycle the waste originating from decontaminated buildings and facilities as non-radioactive material.
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The handling of radioactive waste is one of the basic activities of Belgoprocess. On the basis of its policy vision, Belgoprocess first and
foremost strives to ensure the safety of people and the environment. The handling and management of the waste always focuses on
restricting the risk to people and the environment in a responsible manner. The reduction of the volume of radioactive waste and encasing
of the residual materials results in a high-quality product that fully meets NIRAS requirements. The minimisation of the final volume
ensures that disposal costs are minimised. In this way, ecological and economic factors are weighed up. Belgoprocess also has the task
of decommissioning deactivated nuclear installations in a safe and responsible manner. Here too, the continual weighing up of ecological
and economic factors constitutes a significant element of policy. The decommissioning of installations generates large quantities of
materials, and as much as possible of these are recycled as secondary raw materials.
1. The processing of solid wasteLow-active waste
Low-active solid waste is processed in the CILVA installation. Last year, the following quantities of waste suspected of beta-gamma and alpha
contamination were processed:
• 657.3 m3 of waste was supercompacted among which 165.8 m3 granulated material and 27.4 m3 cinerary drums.
• 158.2 tonnes of solid and 6.0 tonnes of liquid waste was incinerated.
• 63.1 m3 of waste was pre-compressed and packaged in 200 l.
• 727 x 400 l drums were conditioned in CILVA. Each one satisfied NIRAS quality requirements.
Sustainable management of basic activities
Reception in Building 136 of a load of medium-active waste from La Hague.
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Medium-active and high-active waste
In building 280X the content of 216 concrete containers with historically medium waste, originating in the Solarium field were discharged, pre
pressed and characterised for the preparation of further conditioning. This led to 7.2 m3 waste for conditioning in CILVA, 26 drums of 400 l,
which were cemented in 280X and the transfer of the contents of 121 containers, transfered to 107 small drums, to PAMELA for processing.
Alpha-contaminated waste
In the PAMELA infrastructure for the processing of alpha-contaminated waste, which was commissioned in 2007, 182.5 m3 A3X waste was
processed and 109 containers originating from building 280X were processed. 6.4 m3 medium-and high-active solid waste was also processed.
8 drums of semimanufacture coming from prior processing campaigns were repackaged. This resulted in 275 400-litre drums (110 m3), which
were further conditioned in the PAMELA infrastructure.
2. The processing of liquid wasteLow-active waste
Low-active waste water is chemically and biologically processed in the installations on site 2. The sludge created as a result is stored in
anticipation of further processing. In 2010 no bitumen campaign was carried out. Waste water is discharged into the Nete at Mol after treatment
and inspection. In 2010, a total of 23,762 m3 of purified waste water was discharged into the Nete. Organic and watery liquids containing
organic matter were incinerated together with the solid waste in the CILVA incinerator.
Medium-active and high-active waste
Belgoprocess receives small quantities of medium-active liquids from the IRE. Together with the internal flows of medium-active waste water
in 2010, these were stored awaiting further processing. 144 m3 medium-active liquid was evaporated and concentrated in 2010.
Alpha-contaminated waste
Belgoprocess has a pyrolysis installation for the processing of alpha-contaminated liquids. In the past, the organic effluents batch was completely
processed by the pyrolysis installation, with the exception of just a few small quantities. The remaining liquids cannot be processed in a
standardised manner in this installation. A specially tailored treatment process has to be devised.
3. The storage of conditioned wasteBelgoprocess stores all conditioned waste that is produced in Belgium while it awaits final disposal. This means that low, medium and high-
active waste that is conditioned by Belgoprocess itself, as well as waste conditioned by other producers, is stored by Belgoprocess. 20,147 m3
of conditioned waste was present in the storage areas of Belgoprocess at the end of 2010.
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Test rig for testing and sampling of UF
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Storage of low-active waste
15,196 m3 of low-active conditioned waste is currently present in buildings 150 and 151 on site 1. The Frisomat sheds on site 2 contain 289 m3
of low-active conditioned waste. Building 155 entered service at the start of 2005. This storage building was designed for the interim storage
of radium-containing and other alpha-contaminated conditioned waste with geological recovery as the final goal. As a result of this storage
building, conditioned waste that has always been stored in the Frisomat sheds on site 2, can be transferred to site 1, where it can be stored in
favourable circumstances. This action contributes to the purification of site 2 and to the further reduction of the radiation dose on and around
the site. At the end of 2010 633.6 m3 of conditioned waste was located in building 155.
Storage of medium-active conditioned waste
The total amount of medium-active conditioned waste, stored in building 127, amounts to 3,748 m3. A part of the stored drums of medium
level waste are radiologically classified in a lower category (low-active waste). After a radiological control measurement, they were finally
included in the category low-active conditioned waste and subsequently stored in building 151 or 155. This was consistent with the visual and
radiological inspection programme.
High-active conditioned waste
The volume of high-active conditioned waste in storage buildings 129X and 136X on site 1 is 280.9 m3. No increase was detected in the dose
rate at the perimeters of Belgoprocess premises. The HLCW waste accounts for over 98% of all radioactivity in storage at Belgoprocess and
just 1.4% of its volume.
Spent nuclear fuel
Spent nuclear fuel from the SCK (BR3 reactor) is in interim dry storage in building 156X. This consists of a total of seven Castor containers,
temporarily held here pending a decision regarding its reprocessing or disposal.
Inspection of conditioned waste
On 23 June 2006, the ministerial council decided that low and intermediate active short-lived conditioned waste will be disposed in a near
surface disposal area in the town of Dessel. Whilst awaiting transport to its final destination, this conditioned waste will for the time being be
stored at Belgoprocess sites. In the meantime, a well-defined programme is being implemented to ensure that the conditioned waste that is
produced continues to be stored safely during this temporary storage period. This programme involves each drum of conditioned waste being
taken out of storage, inspected and made the subject of additional documentation, before being returned to storage. If any abnormalities are
detected during this inspection, safety measures are immediately taken to prevent the contamination of the storage buildings. At the end of
2009, 100% of the low and intermediate active short-lived conditioned waste stored in buildings 150 and 151 was inspected. In a small number
of drums rusting or swelling has been observed. Some of these were intended in 1982 for disposal at sea within a period of two years. Other
drums were produced to be stored for 10 to 15 years only while awaiting disposal. This deadline has now long since been passed. Because
the inspections have not brought to light any serious problems, immediate corrective measures have not yet had to be taken. However, an
investigation is being conducted into the reasons why certain drums show defects after a number of years of temporary storage. This will enable
«
Arrival of spent fuel from the research reactor of Ghent University.
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preventive action to be taken to ensure the lifespan,
to be guaranteed, of newly produced drums of
conditioned waste. This management procedure
for waste in temporary storage is conducted as a
responsible and sustainable management measure
on behalf of society and in the long term.
In 2010 the inspection of the conditioned medium-
active waste stored in bunker 4 of building 127 was
terminated. In 2010 1,135 packings originating
from building 127 were inspected, 459 of these
drums were moved to building 151 and 8 drums to
building 155.
Administrative recording of conditioned waste
Before conditioned waste is cleared by NIRAS for temporary storage and subsequent disposal, Belgoprocess as the waste processor is required
to demonstrate that the content and packaging meets NIRAS approval criteria. This means that the authorisation files for the original waste, for
the primary packaging and for the treatment and conditioning process have to be approved, that the waste has to be radiologically and physico-
chemically defined on the basis of approved methodologies and isotope vectors, and that proof has to be provided in the form of conformity
documentation to show that the waste really has been conditioned and defined in line with the procedure set out in the authorisation files.
A long-term plan has been drawn up covering all these activities with regard to each batch of conditioned waste, and is being systematically
implemented. The plan has been extended, and will take around ten years to complete. This policy of precisely defining waste with a view
to its subsequent safe disposal is another instance of the sustainable policy of both NIRAS and Belgoprocess. It should be mentioned that,
more than half of the preparatory work had already been carried out which is needed to complete all the authorisation files, methodologies
for radiological characterisation and conformity files.
4. Decommissioning and decontaminationSignificant decommissioning and decontamination work was again carried out at Belgoprocess sites in 2010. The purpose of the decommissioning
and decontamination of the disused installations is to unconditionally release as much material as possible and to recycle it as secondary
raw material. Decommissioning teams were deployed at site 1 for the decontamination and decommissioning of the former Eurochemic
reprocessing plant. On site 2 minor demolition work was performed in the framework of normal maintenance work and concrete blocks and
concrete storage containers were decontaminated from the Solarium in an abrasive jet facility in building 260.
Reception of low-active waste in CILVA installation.
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Decommissioning work on site 1
65 out of 106 cells have so far been cleared of radioactive contamination at the former Eurochemic reprocessing plant. In 16 of the remaining
cells, ongoing clearance work was continued or completed. In another 21 cells, concrete decontamination work is in progress. Four cells,
zones or corridors remain in which no activities have started because they form passage ways between the existing buildings. During the
decommissioning of building 101A last year, a total of 159 tonnes of material was produced. 61% of this is eligible for release. In building
101A a significant effort was made in the context of the conventional demolition of the central part of the building, which was terminated in
the fourth quarter of 2010. 1,782 m2 of structure surface was measured as being free from contamination. Decommissioning work (metal
and miscellaneous material) gets second priority after the concrete decontamination and removal of penetrations, pipes and possible deep
contaminations in the central part. After the demolition of the eastern part of building 101A in 2008 the central part was entirely demolished
during 2010. The concrete rubble (9,876 tonnes) resulting from the demolition of the eastern part was entirely released and discharged for
recycling. 3,254 tonnes of concrete rubble resulting from the demolition of the central part were also removed for recycling. 697 tonnes of
reinforcing steel originating from the eastern and central part has been removed for recycling since the start of the demolition works in 2008.
In total, more than 5,366 tonnes of material was produced on site 1 in 2010, consisting of 353 tonnes of metal, 4,947 tonnes of concrete, and
66 tonnes of miscellaneous material. 98.7% of this is eligible for unconditional release. The assumed objective for decommissioning work on
site BP1 was the reached with the conventional demolition of the central part of building 101A in 2010.
Decommissioning work on site 2
In 2010, on site 2 only very small decommissioning works was carried out within the framework of normal maintenance work to the operational
installations. These works produced 3.7 tonnes of metal, 16.8 tonnes of concrete, 6.5 tonnes of miscellaneous materials. By making maximum
use of available techniques, less than 2% of this total quantity produced was removed as radioactive waste. The entirety of the work carried
out on site 2 during the year resulted in the production of 127 tonnes of metal, 511 tonnes of concrete and 14 tonnes of miscellaneous material.
Out of this total of 651 tonnes of produced materials, 97% was eligible for unconditional release. Planned decommissioning works were due
to organisational reasons postponed until next year.
Decontamination
A considerable quantity of metal was produced during the decommissioning and decontamination work on sites 1 and 2 in 2010. A part of this
material was eventually decontaminated at the abrasive jet facility in the central decontamination infrastructure on site 1. The total quantity of
metal decontaminated by abrasion in this installation was 43 tonnes. For the decontamination of various other materials with a total volume of
6 tonnes, other techniques were used. In the abrasive jet facility on site 2 used for the decontamination of concrete containers, 123 containers
have in the past year been abrasively decontaminated, released and removed. Additionally, the 105 containers that were stocked in 2009
after decontamination and release were totally released through the concrete spec installation. The concrete rubble was removed from the
site. These containers came from the HRA Solarium project. 488 tonnes of concrete and 106 tonnes of metal were produced. More than 97%
of the concrete was eligible for release after crushing and sampling. The metal was released for 100%. During 2010, 626 tonnes of concrete
was also released after being crushed and sampled in the concrete sampling facility on site 2.
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Demolition work Eurochemic.
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PROCESSING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE
WASTE TYPE PROCESSING TYPE QUANTITY OF WASTE PROCESSED
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Combustible low-active waste Incineration (tonnes) 157.8 130.8 184.2 155,0 153,0 158.2
Non-combustible low-active waste Reduction and repackaging (m3) 61.7 71.3 52.6 28.4 89.9 63.1
Supercompacting (m3) 538.4 568.6 417.2 457.6 501.1 657.3
Alpha contaminated waste Supercompacting (m3) 0,0 0,0 51.0 21.2 223.8 182.5
Medium-active and alpha contaminated waste water
Concentration by condensation (m3) 0,0 0,0 0,0 120,0 0,0 144,0
Combustible liquids Incineration (tonnes) 8.1 11,0 10.5 10.9 5.3 6.0
Suspect waste water Conventional treatment (m3) 22,027,0 17,680,0 22,331,0 20,189,0 16,044,0 21,779,0
Low-active waste water Flocculation (m3) 2,586,0 2,340,0 2,415,0 2,336,0 1,152,0 1,282,0
Purified waste water Controlled discharge (m3) 25,153,0 19,961,0 24,511,0 23,009,0 19,170,0 23,762,0
CONDITIONING OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE
WASTE TYPE TYPE OF CONDITIONING QUANTITY OF END PRODUCT PRODUCED
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Processed low-active waste Cementing (m3) 245.2 268.4 241.2 243.6 277.2 290.8
Sludge from water treatment Bituminisation (m3) 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0
Alpha contaminated solid waste Cementing (m3) 0,0 0,0 28.1 11.5 108.6 94.4
Medium-active and high-active solid waste
Cementing (m3) 4.8 36.0 47.6 24.8 23.7 26.0
Bituminisation (m3) 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0
Concentrate from condensation Bituminisation (m3) 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0 0,0
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5. ProjectsProcessing historic waste
In the past the strategic decision was taken to process the historic HRA/Solarium waste partly in building 280X, and partly in the existing,
adapted, PAMELA infrastructure (building 131). The processing of radioactive waste in building 131X started at the beginning of 2007. By the
end of 2010 857 containers were emptied, 585 of which were processed in building 280 resulting in a conditioned end product with a volume
of 64 m3. The 294 packings received in building 131X were conditioned with a resulting volume of 23.2 m3.
Dismantling project 105X/122X
The buildings 105X and 122X functioned as storage installations for high-active liquids produced by the processing factory Eurochemic. The
intention is that these storage buildings are dismantled. Various dismantling concepts were compared which resulted in a final draft that
will be further explored and described in collaboration with an external consultancy agency. The project will be developed further in the
coming years and implemented so that the actual dismantling of the installations 105X and 122X can start. Meanwhile the preparation of the
quotations was started. Simultaneously preparations were made for the drawing up of the safety report, the environmental impact report and
the decommissioning report.
Near surface disposal project
The construction of the disposal site is planned from 2012 onwards, and will be operational from 2015. Category A waste will be disposed at
this site. Conditioned waste drums or non-conditioned waste products will be placed in concrete caissons, after which the whole will be filled
with concrete. This end product is called monolith. An IPM building (Installation Production Monoliths) will be constructed for the production
of these monoliths. The design study for this construction has been awarded to Belgoprocess, and the implementation is planned for the
period 2012 - 2015.
6. Supporting technical activitiesSustainable enterprise also involves supervision work to ensure that the activities relating to the processing and storage of waste, and those
relating to the decontamination and decommissioning of deactivated installations can be carried out safely. Restriction of environmental effects
must be a striven for in a responsible manner. The maintenance of sites, buildings and technical facilities on operational stand-by is crucial. In
view of the extent of the sites and the available infrastructure at Belgoprocess, this requires an annually recurring financial input on a large scale.
LLCW MLCW HLCW
Storage of conditioned waste
14,000
15,000
16,000
17,000
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
11,000
12,000
13,000
m3
‘07
273.7
4,1
04
14,2
44
‘08
273.7
3,9
15
14,9
08
‘09
273.7
3,9
18
15,3
44
13,4
95
‘05
253
3,9
66
13,7
08
‘06
265.6
3,9
76
‘10
280.9
3,7
48
16,1
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Sustainable operations are only possible if every activity is conducted and completed safely by all the parties concerned. For this reason,
safety is an integral, high-priority element of Belgoprocess's industrial policy at all times, and the necessary safety considerations are
deliberately integrated in every step of the industrial process. The central elements are the personal safety of employees and the need
to protect the environment and the general public. Given the nature of Belgoprocess's activities, there is always an environmental factor
to be taken into account. This sustainability report distinguishes between personal and internal safety on the one hand and external
safety and the environment on the other. External safety and the environment are closely monitored when internal activities have the
potential to influence or have an impact externally. Information about the external prevention policy can be found below in the section
‘Environmental policy’.
Thoroughly investigated safety policyAt Belgoprocess's request the FANC conducted an extensive and thorough audit. All sections were examined. The audit focused on about
25 topics that are part of six main themes, including safety management and organisation, up to the management of irregular events and
incidents. With this assignment to the FANC Belgoprocess underlined that safety and safety management are priority objectives of the
company. This audit resulted in a strategic safety program covering all areas for improvement in the broadest sense. The implementation of
this safety program will lift the safety management to an even higher level.
A proactive safety policy
The personal safety of employees and the protection of the environment and society are central issues.
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Internal safety: anticipating every riskEnsuring internal safety involves promoting employees’ personal safety and anticipating all risks. Active prevention, protection and risk
management are regarded as essential to ensuring safety in the workplace. Belgoprocess is aware that ongoing education in safe behaviour
is both necessary and worthwhile. In view of the social importance of our activities, the transparency of our safety performance is crucial.
It is therefore easy to see why measurable performance, expressed in clear, concrete figures, contributes to the desired safety culture. The
systematic implementation of the safety points mentioned in the action plan, which was drawn up during the 10-yearly revision of site 1 as well
as site 2, continues. Special attention is paid to fire protection of the installations. A reoccurring are workstation analyses. These are carried out
every three years. The revisions take into account any experience gained and any circumstances, which may possibly have changed. Hoisting
equipment, lifts and electrical equipment are inspected as a matter of routine. With regard to first aid, refresher-training courses were organised
for the staff. These examples emphasise the concern for internal safety and protection of the personal safety of the staff.
Exceptionally low annual dosesThe continual implementation of the ALARA principle results in low individual and collective annual doses. Belgoprocess thus underlines its
constant concern for its employees. For 2010 the collective dose for 251 category A* and B* employees was 159.57 man-mSv. This represents
a low average individual dose of 0.64 mSv. The individual annual dose for 208 members of staff was less than 1 mSv. The highest individual
annual dose was 8.43 mSv. Thus the individual annual doses remained not just far below the legal maximum annual dose of 20 mSv, but also
well within the limit of 10 mSv, which Belgoprocess has set as its target. In the context of the company’s reporting obligation to the government,
five INES-evaluations occurred in 2010 two of which at level 0 and three at level 1 on the international incidents scale (from 0 to 7) (INES).
These incidents were analysed and measures were taken to increase safety awareness. In 2010 no cases of internal contamination were
recorded. Yet, Belgoprocess continues to sensitise its staff in relation to protection against internal contamination.
The HSW committee ensures dialogue and safety consciousness The Committee for Health and Safety at Work (abbreviated CHSW) is regarded within Belgoprocess as an important personnel consultation
body. At monthly meetings of the CHSW, consultation takes place about safety policy and recorded results, and about employees’ physical and
mental health. The environment also lies within the Committee’s remit, and is discussed extensively. The initiatives taken by the Committee
demonstrate the point that it performs useful, preventive work. Any accidents are subject to an in-depth investigation and discussion, to prevent
any recurrence in the future. On tours of the premises, Committee members identify unsafe situations or circumstances so that these may be
improved, after which amelioration measures are taken. The Health and Safety Executive is also closely involved in the audits of the welfare
inspection and those of certification bodies. The CHSW is systematically kept informed of those actions developed under the SAVE project
(Together Active for Safety and Efficiency).
2010 6 15.3 1.20
2009 4 10.6 0.28
2008 1 3.1 0.23
2007 2 6.1 0.06
2006 8 23.6 0.32
2005 5 14.8 0.19
2004 4 11.5 0.17
2003 8 23.4 0.62
2002 8 22.9 0.96
2001 8 22.2 0.55
The level of frequency shows the
relationship between a multiplica-
tion of the number of accidents by
1 million and the number of hours of
work performed.
The level of seriousness shows the
relationship between 1,000 times
the number of calendar days actu-
ally lost and the number of hours of
work performed.
Level of frequency
Level of seriousness
Number of accidents
* Definitions of persons with work-related exposure:• category A: persons with work-related exposure who can accumulate an effective dose of over 6 mSv in any successive rolled forward 12-month period, or who can accumulate
an equivalent dose in his or her eye lens, skin or limbs that is more than three-tenths of the dose limits set out in article 20.1.3 (cf. ARBIS).• category B: all persons with work-related exposure not belonging to category A
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En route to an integrated safety systemIn 2010, six industrial accidents occurred, which corresponds to a frequency degree of 15.34. This is an increase compared to the figure in
previous years but still a good result, especially when we consider the nature of certain activities. It is Belgoprocess’s aim to keep the number
of industrial accidents each year as low as possible. In doing so, Belgoprocess counts on the awareness of its employees to work safely and to
try and reach a new record that is valued with a reward. To further penetrate safety culture Belgoprocess started with SAVE: Together Active
for Safety and Efficiency within the Division Operations-Decommissioning. The SAVE project runs in phases, it combines safety perception
and safety awareness with efficiency improvement measures. Firstly, the expectations for each group of participants are identified and their
substance is determined. Secondly, an assessment is made what can be changed within the target groups themselves and an action list is
prepared and implemented. It’s a long-term plan in which the entire company will ultimately be involved. In 2010, the care systems, including
the OHSAS 18001 safety system, successfully passed a follow-up audit. The prepared drug and alcohol policy was ratified in 2010.
Fire safetyAt every stage from the design of a nuclear installation through to its operation, strict safety requirements are taken into account, and the most
up-to-date protective systems are used. However, the possibility of human or technical error can never be completely excluded. In any case,
Belgoprocess must be prepared to take suitable measures to limit the consequences of such accidents as far and as swiftly as possible. To
this end, Belgoprocess has its own fire fighting team amongst other things. This internal service consists of 15 volunteers who are employed
in various Belgoprocess departments. Every month, the fire fighters are drilled in the use of emergency and fire fighting techniques in a
nuclear setting. In addition to conventional fire fighting equipment, use is also made of adapted suits, which protect the fire fighters against
the risk of nuclear contamination. The internal fire service has special equipment for the performance of its tasks. As well as the fire fighting
exercises organised at Belgoprocess, the internal fire service also attended externally additional training in an acknowledged centre. The sports
programme of these voluntary fire fighters to stay in good condition remains a fixed component of their monthly exercises. New installations
are systematically equipped with the latest fire safety technology and older installations are adapted and updated where necessary. Some fire
safety audits, both by the fire insurer as by the certified inspection body Bel V and additionally the FANC audit team, are the basis of an action
plan with the aim to lift fire safety at an even higher level.
Managing emergency situationsThe emergency headquarters, which plays a central role in the emergency plan, was tested during a planned emergency exercise. Amongst
others, the way a staff evacuation is best tackled including an emergency evacuation of the headquarters, was tested. After such an exercise
a thorough evaluation is made which lays the foundation for a constantly improving emergency plan.
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Belgoprocess invested in a new dosimeter system.
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Belgoprocess has a social responsibility to work in an environmentally safe manner and continually to ensure the environment is safe.
Operating a sustainable environmental policy thus means first and foremost that the environment should receive long-term protection. This
is a concrete example of Belgoprocess's sustainable enterprise at work. Firstly, the generation of waste needs to be prevented. Secondly,
materials should be internally or externally recycled where possible. They should only be regarded as waste and treated accordingly as
a last resort, when recycling is technically or economically unfeasible. All activities that Belgoprocess performs on its site are subject
to strict requirements in order to limit the potential impact on the environment in a responsible manner. Concern for environmental
protection together with concern for safe, high quality work form the three cornerstones of our integrated care policy concretely described
as: “safety-environment-quality”.
Belgoprocess's environmental policyBelgoprocess seeks to restrict the environmental impact of its activities in a responsible manner. Compliance with legal standards and
licensing conditions is not an end in itself. Belgoprocess's environmental policy is based on an approach in which safety, quality and care
for the environment are inextricably linked. Moreover, the company seeks to demonstrate via its local area monitoring programme that it
does monitor its impact on the local environment, and that that impact is negligible. Its environmental policy is set out in the Belgoprocess
policy statement, which is integrally reproduced at the inside of the cover of this sustainability report. It makes clear that ensuring that its
own environmental and safety performance is understood is seen as crucial by Belgoprocess. Auditing is a valuable tool for acquiring and
maintaining this understanding, providing an independent view of the functioning of the organisation and the technology used.
Environmental policy
The implementation of a sustainable environmental policy will ensure that the environment is safeguarded in the long term.
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Assurance system based on ISO standardsBelgoprocess operates a system of care which complies with the ISO-9001 standards (quality), ISO-14001 (environment) and OHSAS-18001
(safety) for all its processes and activities. The most recent recertification for these three standards was conducted during 2009 by an
independent and accredited certification agency (SGS) and is valid for the next three years. Observations and opportunities for improvement
were defined by the same certification agency during the first follow-up audit (for the cycle from 2009 to 2012) in October. Through each
certification an important and formal step forward is taken. It’s a validation of the achieved level even though it is never complete and always
on-going. Belgoprocess continues to carry out its industrial activities in a safe and qualitative manner and with respect for the environment
and its neighbours. The aim to achieve continuous improvement with regard to the environment, health and safety, and quality is permanently
pursued and mastered by good management, with an active involvement of all employees.
Belgoprocess's licencesBelgoprocess holds all the necessary federal operating licences for its installations on both site 1 and site 2. It also holds both a federal and
a regional licence for the discharge of its industrial wastewater in the Nete at Mol. For new installations or significant extensions to existing
installations, or the dismantling of shutdown nuclear installations, Belgoprocess draws up a licence application. When necessary a safety report
and an environmental impact report can be added to the licence application.
Discharges into the environment1. Waste water discharges
The discharge of purified wastewater into the Nete at Mol is subject to a regional environmental permit and a federal operating licence. Belgoprocess
has its own radiological and biological purification installation for wastewater, which subjects all wastewater to extensive purification before it is
discharged. The purified wastewater is first carefully sampled and analysed to determine whether the purification has been sufficiently effective and
whether the discharge conditions are satisfied. If this is the case, the purified wastewater is discharged via a 10 km subterranean pipeline into the
Nete at Mol (surface water). Belgoprocess also runs a self-monitoring programme at the discharge point in the Mol-Ezaart measurement station.
This programme includes measurement and analysis of both radiological and physico-chemical parameters and is based on the values stipulated in
the two licences. The measurement station is accessible at all times to regional and federal officials, who are able to take control samples and have
them analysed. In 2010 Belgoprocess discharged 23,762 m3 of purified waste water into the Nete at Mol. This was just 20% of the permitted volume.
Radiological
The total discharged measured radioactivity was 2,216 GBq. The actual radioactivity of the various radio-isotopes for 2010 is made up as
follows: weak beta radiation and the relatively harmless isotope H-3 accounted for 99.98%, and all other radio-isotopes accounted for just
0.02%. This group of other radioisotopes can be divided as follows: 4% alpha total, 31% Cs-137, 7% Sr-Y-90, 2% Co-60, 0% Cs-134 and 56%
other beta. The total discharged weighted radioactivity was 0.296 GBq or just 0.2% of the permitted value. The graph on page 30 provides
an overview of the percentage composition of the discharged weighted radioactivity for 2010.
Cs-137: 55.42%
Co-60: 2.70%
H-3: 18.59%
Other beta: 6.66%
Sr-Y-90:3.31%
Alfa: 13.32%
The total discharged weighted radioactivity was 0.296 GBq or 0.2% of the permitted value.
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Physico-chemical
Belgoprocess operates a self-monitoring programme that complies with the conditions of VLAREM II. The industrial waste water discharged
is regularly checked through a 24-hour flow rate proportional sample against the applicable discharge requirements. The analysis results for
2010 stayed far below the legally permitted discharge standards. The total amount of salt discharged in 2010 was 16 tonnes. The table on this
page shows the most relevant parameters and their respective salt content, expressed in tonnes. The discharges of Belgoprocess do not affect
the biological quality of the receiving water body, as is apparent from the biotical indexes of the Molse Nete.
Dose impact as a result of wastewater discharges
The calculation of the dose impact on man of the discharge of liquid effluent in the Nete at Mol carried out by Belgoprocess was realised using
a conservative calculation model. This model was developed by the NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board), a specialised consulting
and engineering office from the UK, for the average resident on the bank of the Nete at Mol. This fictitious resident on the bank was exposed in
22 different ways in the model to the radioactivity of the discharged wastewater. Of these 22 methods 19 relate to the internal contamination
through inhalation of contaminated particles or by consumption in food, that may have been in contact with the wastewater. The other 3 relate
to direct radiation of the wastewater or sludge. The basic assumption is that the average bank resident spends 50 hours a year on the bank,
swims 10 hours in the Nete and stays in places where dredged sludge is used as fertiliser for 300 hours and moreover that he obtains 10% of his
food from plants and animals in the immediate vicinity of the Nete at Mol. The dose to which such a fictitious person would have been exposed
in 2010 as a result of the discharges in that same year, are calculated at 0.05 μSv. This dose is of the same negligibly low level as the values for
the previous years. The dose the average resident on the bank would be exposed to during the following 50 years as a result of the discharge in
2010 can also be calculated. This so-called subsequent dose is 0.07 μSv. This very low dose has to be weighed up against the legally permitted
dose of 1,000 μSv (1 mSv) which the population may receive on an annual basis. Compare this with the naturally occurring radiation in the
Campine region which amounts to approximately 2.4 mSv (2,400 μSv) per annum and it is more than clear that an annual dose of 0.05 μSv
and a follow up dose of 0.07 μSv is insignificant.
2. Atmospheric emissions
Belgoprocess categorises atmospheric emissions into those from nuclear installations and those from conventional installations. A significant
effort has been made to limit emissions. This has involved the use of a sophisticated filtration system with preliminary filters and high efficiency
filters, and of gas purification. The High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are very effective, and retain at least 99.95% of dust particles
released into the air. Emissions from the chimneys of nuclear installations consist mainly of ventilation air. The discharge limits for the chimneys
on the sites are set out in the nuclear operating licence and the associated safety report, or are imposed under article 36.1 of ARBIS. The
traditional atmospheric discharges are from combustion plants and from the incineration plant of radioactive waste. These plants are regularly
checked in accordance with the legal obligations (VLAREM II).
Radiological discharges
The chimneys of the nuclear installations are continuously sampled, so that a concrete total overview is obtained of alpha- and beta-emissions.
The various chimneys on Belgoprocess sites 1 and 2 only emitted a minimal fraction (maximum 1.5%) of the relevant authorised limits in 2010. The
SALT CONTENT IN TONNES (2010)
Parameter Discharged salt con-tent in tonnes/year
Na2SO
45.08
Na3PO
40.08
Suspended matter
0.15
NaCl 6.61
SiO2
0.33
NaNO3
0.49
NaNO2
0.02
Rest 3.00
TOTAL 15.76
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radon-emissions from the waste stored at the Solarium are not included in this figure. Since the start up of building 280X in the controlled zone on
site 2, the suctioned air in question has been emitted via the chimney on 280X. In 2010 a total of 1.58 MBq (0.63 MBq alpha and 0.95 MBq beta)
was emitted via the licensed chimneys on site 1 and site 2 (excluding tritium and radon). The quantity of tritium emitted through the incineration
installation’s chimney was 27 MBq, or 0.0027% of the permitted value (1 TBq per year). The quantity of radon emitted through the chimney of
building 280X was 11 TBq or 65% of the permitted value (17 TBq per year) for this installation. The measurements show that emissions from the
chimneys on both sites were far below the emissions limits in 2010 (except for radon 280X).
Other discharges
Belgoprocess has two steam boilers (2 x 4.465 MW) for steam production on site 1. In accordance with VLAREM II, the emission of flue
gases is measured four times a year. Belgoprocess also has an incineration plant for low level radioactive solid waste with a nominal capacity
of 100 kg/h. Emission measurements of the combustion gases of the furnace are carried out every year. The combustion plant complied with
the emission limit values for dust, CO, SO2, nickel and vanadium in 2010. For NO
x, levels were detected that were still within the permitted
tolerance of 30%, as mentioned in VLAREM II.
Dose impact due to gaseous discharges
For atmospheric discharges too, a calculation model is used to determine the subsequent dose incurred by the most critical person over
50 years as a result of the atmospheric discharges in 2010. The total subsequent dose the most critical person incurs from discharges from
Belgoprocess's chimneys is 8 μSv. This is entirely due to the inhalation of radon discharged via the chimney of building 280X. This value is
well below the maximum dose of 1 mSv (1.000 μSv), which a member of the public may incur as a result of industrial activities. As a result of
other atmospheric discharges in 2010, the most critical individual in the population incurred a maximum (subsequent) dose of 9 nSv or 0.009
μSv, which is as insignificant as in previous years.
3. Solid waste
From controlled areas
Due in particular to the industrial decommissioning work performed by Belgoprocess, large volumes of materials are generated. An extensive
material management programme ensures that a substantial proportion of these materials are decontaminated to below the release limit, as
a result of which they can be recycled as secondary raw materials. Only small volumes of radioactive waste are left.
The material from the controlled zone mainly consists of concrete rubble and scrap metal. The treatment of this waste flow must ultimately
result in a high recycling percentage after release. To this end, special installations have been designed and built which are capable of eliminating
radioactive contamination from concrete and/or scrap metal. After sampling at the concrete sampling installation, the concrete rubble is released
for use as a secondary raw material for road construction. The metal is released after treatment at an abrasive jet facility. The fraction of metals
which, due to size restrictions, cannot be released after treatment with the available resources and after measurement, is sent to a melting
oven in Sweden to be melted down, sampled and released after measurement. The volumes of released materials are systematically recorded
and reported to the FANC. The branch of the FANC (Bel V) conducts independent control measurements of the released materials. The goal
is to release as much waste as possible from controlled areas to be treated as non-nuclear waste. In 2010, a total volume of 6,360 tonnes
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The new concrete spec installation in building 102.
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of waste materials were removed from the Belgoprocess sites. Of this, 6,063 tonnes originates from controlled zones (released materials).
From non-controlled areas
Non-nuclear waste materials are sorted and temporarily stored at an internal company container park. They are then removed and treated
by authorised processors. All these waste materials are recorded in a waste materials register, which is submitted each year to the Flemish
Environmental Administration, through the Internal Environmental Report Section. As mentioned above, in 2010, a total volume of 6,360 tonnes
of various waste materials was removed from Belgoprocess sites. The main waste flows for 2010 were, in order of importance: construction
and demolition waste (91.3%), scrap iron (7,3%), miscellaneous waste (0.6%), wood waste (0.3%), dangerous waste (0.3%) and paper waste
(0.2%). These materials primarily derived from the continuing demolition of building 101A (the former Eurochemic reprocessing plant). Most of
the waste that leaves Belgoprocess premises is recycled (± 97%). RECYCLING
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Production data
During the period 1988-2010 a
total of 29,345 tonnes of material
was produced during dismantling
activities. Of this, 25,276 tonnes
or 90.3% was released. Only 9.7%
was treated as radioactive waste of
which:
Concrete: 24,166 tonnes, of which
21,256 tonnes was fit for recycling
(92.5%)
Metal: 3,943 tonnes, of which 3,122
tonnes was fit for recycling (82.4%)
Miscellanious: 650 tonnes, of which
360 tonnes was fit for recycling
(55.8%)
Process of decommissioning
RADIOACTIVE WASTE
DECOMMISSIONING
UNCONTAMINATED MATERIAL
WASTE PROCESSINGRECYCLING
CONTAMINATED MATERIAL
DECONTAMINATION OF MATERIALS
concretem
etal
miscellanious
total
90.3%
82.4%
92.5%
55.8%
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Environmental effectsMonitoring the local environment
In consultation with the competent government, Belgoprocess has set up a legally required local environment monitoring programme which
enables the radiological impact of its industrial activities on the environment to be determined. This monitoring programme consists of
radiological checks on the water, soil and atmosphere.
Water and soil
Every quarter, samples are taken from the Nete at Mol before and after the Belgoprocess discharge point. These samples are used to determine
radiological and physico-chemical parameters. The measured concentrations in the water of the Nete at Mol are close to the environmental
quality standards for surface water in VLAREM II. It can therefore be deduced that the impact of Belgoprocess's discharges is negligible. In
addition, every year, sludge samples are taken from four different places on the bed of the Nete at Mol. Regular contamination checks are
performed on the groundwater and rainwater at both Belgoprocess sites and in the local area. The measured concentrations are quite low, and
usually remain below the detection limit.
Determination of tritium in aqueous effluents.«
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Atmosphere
Environmental radiation on the sites, at their perimeter and in the vicinity of Belgoprocess is measured quarterly using TLDs (thermoluminescent
dosemeters).
In total, 48 dosemeters have been set up, as follows:
• nine dosemeters spread out over site 1
• four dosemeters on the perimeter of site 1
• four dosemeters in the broader vicinity of site 1
• two dosemeters, spread out over site 2
• five dosemeters on the perimeter of the controlled zone of site 2
• twelve dosemeters in the broader vicinity of site 2
• twelve dosemeters spread out along the banks of the Nete at Mol
The average dose output for 2010 at the vicinity of site 1 was 77 nSv/h, which corresponds to the level of the natural background radiation in the
Campine (ca. 70 nSv/h). In the vicinity of site 2, higher values were measured. The average the results for 2010 differ between 83 - 187 nSv/h.
At one place in the vicinity of site 2 a local dose output was measured of 484 nSv/h. In the vicinity of that place conditioned waste is stored
while awaiting transportation to the new storage facility for low-radioactive conditioned waste (building 155X) on site 1 of Belgoprocess. The
further decontamination of the site, will and shall contribute gradually to a significant decrease of the radiation around site 2.
Measurement of radon on and around site 2
A total of 26 radon detectors have been set up on site 2, including eight in the immediate vicinity of the Solarium. Radon containing containers
are stored at the Solarium while awaiting processing and conditioning. The measurements confirm that the higher radon concentrations were
all found around the Solarium. 14 Rn-detectors were also set up around the Belgoprocess site to survey radon activity in the atmosphere. The
measurements for 2010 yielded results that correspond to variations of the natural radon background.
Atmospheric contamination
Air is monitored at the Dessel Town Hall and at three locations on site 2. The alfa and beta atmospheric contamination levels are insignificant
for 2010.
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Testing compressive strength on a concrete sample.
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The main aim of Belgoprocess's activities is to treat radioactive waste matter in such a way as to minimise the risk of harmful effects
to man and the environment in a responsible manner. In concrete terms, sustainable enterprise means for Belgoprocess that for each
policy decision, the impact on man and society is taken into account naturally together with the ecological and economic parameters.
This approach enables Belgoprocess to provide a satisfactory response to the demands made by society concerning the management of
radioactive waste in general and the cost of that management in particular. Its future-oriented mission can only be carried through to a
successful conclusion if the whole company takes it on. Thus sustainability starts in-house, with the company’s own employees.
Operational management based on process managementAll activities performed by Belgoprocess, both technical and administrative and supporting activities, fall under one of the 14 business processes
identified within Belgoprocess. These processes are categorised as main processes, management processes and supporting processes. For
each process, a co-ordinator is appointed responsible for the management of his/her process and for achieving the set objectives and who
must improve this process where possible. To this end, performance indicators are identified and the measured values are used as guideline
parameters. Through such a process of continual improvement, Belgoprocess attempts to optimise its operational management on an ongoing
basis, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the satisfaction of stake-holders or interested groups. The employee is central to this operational
management model. It is through his/her unremitting dedication that the desired results are achieved.
Enterprise on behalf of man and society
Maintenance of the heating system.«
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Working on education, safety and motivation paysEmployees’ actions must be continually focused on the safety requirements of society. For this reason, a great deal of attention is paid at
Belgoprocess to training, motivation and well-being, and to a safe, high-quality working environment. In the future it is the aim to implement
'Competency Management' as part of the personnel policy programme. In doing so, the company aims to develop the knowledge and skills
of the personnel and to adapt them to future requirements.
The personnel departmentThe Belgoprocess personnel department assists the management team in recruiting and selecting the right skills. In other words, the department,
makes sure the right employee is employed at the right place. The department also detects and manages the training needs within the company
in order to achieve a targeted growth of the human capital. The service also monitors the correct, consistent and consequential application of the
terms of employment for each employee. This is based on time and attendance registration and the efficient management and implementation
of personnel administration and information. Generally the personnel department supports the policy of the Executive Management and guides
the contacts with trade union partners in social dialogue. The personnel department also supports all staff activities. This is done in close
consultation with the Belgoprocess Circle.
Belgoprocess pays great attention to the quality and safety of the working environment.
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Management and development of human capitalAt Belgoprocess safety regulations — and their constant optimisation — are central issues. All employees are aware of the need of the most
stringent safety standards in the interest of the entire society. Therefore the company is well aware of the necessity of the continuous and
adequate further training of the staff. Especially because in the management and processing of highly radioactive waste specific techniques
come into play. That’s why Belgoprocess spends a considerable budget to training its employees. 1 to 2% of annual working hours is spend
to develop greater security awareness and responsibility among employees. This process starts with commencement of employment when
all new employees go through an extensive introduction traject and a basic training course. The competency management system which is
planned to be implemented will detect gaps in the field of knowledge, skills and competencies. It will form the basis for preparing a long-term
staff development plan that takes into account the needs of Belgoprocess and its staff. This will result in a skilled, satisfied and motivated staff
contingent. The ultimate goal is to employ staff, each one with their specific functions, as efficiently as possible. As a result, these workers will
feel more confident in the performance of their duties and the responsibilities associated with it.
Personnel Analysis: figures reveal a stable working environmentAt the end of 2010, Belgoprocess had 281 employees, all of them employed as white-collar worker with permanent employment contracts of both
permanent and fixed term. Belgoprocess also relied on temporary workers. One personnel member left on early retirement. In view of this low level of
employee turnover retention was no topic. The reasons for this are the flexibility and the opportunity to find a good balance between work and family life.
Rejuvenation coming up
In 2010, the average employee age was 44. Out of the 280 employees, 83 had less than six years seniority at Belgoprocess.
Not enough women
At Belgoprocess only 12.8% of the total workforce consist of women. Compared with the gender ratio in society as a whole this still is a very
poor percentage. Belgoprocess makes an effort to engage more women. The imbalance is probably partly explained by the particular intense
physical work some of the activities of Belgoprocess require.
Sick leave
In 2010 the average number of days off sick per person was 9.2 days. This is an increase of 10.8% compared to 2009. The number of days
of short-term sick leave (less than 1 month) increased with 10.3% compared to 2009 and even with 23.9% compared to 2008. This upward
trend has been recorded for several years and should be reversed by developing and implementing a targeted 'absenteeism policy'. In order to
allow an external comparison it is naturally important to implement the same definition. Compared to the records of other social secretariats
this gives Belgoprocess a somewhat more positive picture of absenteeism due to illness. Relevant studies of SD Worx and Securex about sick
leave with 750,000 employees and 40,000 employers shows that short illness in Belgium for the first time since 2004, declined slightly. The
average short-term sick leave remains high with 2.42%. The general absence was 5.68%. Belgoprocess doesn’t score good with 2.38% of
short-term absence in 2010 and 3.55% of indefinite absence.
Paid sick leave within guaranteed monthly income (days/man-year)
2010 5.96 2009 5.532008 5.46 2007 4.92 2006 4.56 2005 5.13 2004 5.07 2003 4.40 2002 5.64 2001 6.00 2000 6.50
Personnel according to age group
<21 y. 0 21-25 y. 7 26-30 y. 24 31-35 y. 34 36-40 y. 34 41-45 y. 44 46-50 y. 53 51-55 y. 57 >55 y. 28
Personnel according to years of service
0-5 y. 84 6-10 y. 33 11-15 y. 9 16-20 y. 24 21-25 y. 81 26-30 y. 13 >30 y. 37
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Correct communication is vitalBelgoprocess delivers services with a considerable social impact and is therefore aware of the need for effective radioactive waste management.
Because the company carries out public interest tasks, Belgoprocess regards open dialogue with local people and the distribution of accurate
information as indispensable. Transparency and the faithful recording of activities and their effects on the environment are the only way of
responding to the demands posed by a critical public. Belgoprocess knows that a sound reputation is essential if it is to provide services of
lasting value. Belgoprocess uses a wide range of information channels to share the results of the sustainability policy with all individuals, groups
and organisations that have a stake in the effective functioning of Belgoprocess.
Internal communicationCareful waste management is an indispensable element of the nuclear option. Belgoprocess employees play a central role in the performance of
this mission. Their commitment is therefore essential. The staff newsletter, lunchtime briefings and the intranet are the tangible result of an active
internal communication policy for employees. In 2010, the newsletter ‘Belgopress’, which is distributed among the public, appeared 2 times. This
newsletter spotlights topical issues in detail. Besides Belgopress the staff magazine aims to inform staff quickly about company affairs. In the
2010 ten bulletins appeared with current company information. During lunchtime sessions, guest speakers explain business-related topics, with
an opportunity for questions and answers. Intrabel, the Belgoprocess intranet, gives employees relevant business news quickly and succinctly.
Belgoprocess trained a group of Iraqi operators in decommissioning techniques.
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External communication2010 was characterised in relation to external communication a lasting interest from a political angle, The social issue for safety in the nuclear
sector and an increased interest from foreign companies in the activities of Belgoprocess. The increased interest from the various political
parties should be explained on the one hand by the energy debates and on the other by the finalisation of the present disposal dossier. The local
partnerships closely follow up the future disposal of conditioned waste and the municipalities of Dessel and Mol are systematically informed
about the company aspects. Additionally the decision was taken to distribute the internal company magazine Belgopress to local policy makers
and interested residents of the surrounding municipalities. Extra efforts were also made in 2010 concerning external communications in order
to bundle and present the results of Belgoprocess in a follow-up issue of the sustainability report.
Raising awareness of the nuclear issue38 technical tours were organised in 2010. These tours were realised in the framework of commercialisation campaigns and informative visits.
In total 517 people participated in such a technical visit to the Belgoprocess installations. Moreover 12,490 people received information on
radioactivity’s role in society and the management of radioactive waste materials in 2010, via Isotopolis, the Belgoprocess information centre.
Traditionally, more than 13,000 of these visitors are pupils from secondary schools.
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The professional way Belgoprocess carries out its duties enjoys international recognition. The company watches over the quality of its
personnel team and continually optimises its infrastructure. Moreover all assignments are carried out under a strict legislative framework.
The legislative framework not only supervises the way in which Belgoprocess carries out its duties but also observes that these duties
are carried out at a reasonable price. A professional company attitude and an adequate legal supervision offer principals and society as a
whole the best guarantees. They not only ensure that the radioactive waste produced is processed, conditioned and managed appropriately
but also ensure that this is realised at the correct price.
The interests of society primarily shape the decisions Belgoprocess makes, not a concern for profitability. This is why this ‘sustainable annual
report’ emphasises social issues and safety and environment-related aspects. The financial section only appears at the end. However, a strict
financial policy is also essential, to ensure that the company can successfully achieve its socially important mission, cover its technical risks
and meet its obligations. Continuity is crucial in the management of the nuclear cycle. This applies to every step, from the production of nuclear
fuel to the disposal of radioactive waste. The financing of the management of these various steps down through the generations is structurally
regulated. This also applies to the responsibilities Belgoprocess accepts within that nuclear cycle. To be able to guarantee the stability of
Belgoprocess into the remote future, knowledge and technology need to be maintained and continually improved. Moreover the necessary
funds must remain available for this. An insight into the company’s financial state is at least as important for a proper view of Belgoprocess
and its activities as information about the environment and safety. Only if the necessary financing is available will the company be able to
promote the interests of society as a whole. With the Royal Decree of 19 December 2003, the financing for processing historic waste and
the decommissioning of shut down old installations is regulated via the principle of the collection by the network operator of a supplement
Finance
In 2010, the administrative building at site 2 was completely renovated.
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on electricity consumption (kWh), which is passed on to NIRAS. This guarantee of funding on the basis of consecutive five-year plans puts
Belgoprocess in a position to carry out a multiple-year plan in which a significant proportion of the technical liability can be definitively processed.
Newly produced waste is processed at set prices and tariffs. Pricing is based on an industrial model, including margins to cover contractual
risks. If little or no use needs to be made of these margins, a positive financial result is recorded.
Explanation of the key figuresIncome Statement
We note an increase in operating income (F) compared to last year of 8% or 3.4 million euros. Turnover growth (G) of 17.8 million euros is entirely
explained by the fact that Belgoprocess takes into account the result of the PAMELA project. Belgoprocess uses the completed contract method.
This means that projects are expensed at the time of final delivery. On the other hand, by completing the PAMELA project we notice a drop in
orders in progress (H). In relation to the parent company NIRAS, operating income increased from 40.2 million euros in 2009 to 42.0 million
in 2010. This increase is mainly visible in the NIRAS contracts "Standby" and "Studies and Projects". The "Standby" contract provides for the
maintenance of technical installations and sites. Belgoprocess makes more efforts for major maintenance. The final completion of the PAMELA
project affects the contract "Studies and Projects" positive. Compared to 2009 the waste treatment contract generates a lower profit. The reason
is that the target rates for processing in PAMELA, in accordance with the contract, are annually adjusted to the real cost / benefit figures. For
commercial activities Belgoprocess notes an increase of 1.7 million euros. The consultancy assignments and contracts for dismantling grow.
Operating charges (I) rose from 38.0 million to 42.5 million euros, an increase of 11.7%. The NIRAS contracts rely primarily on directing duties.
Activities for NIRAS determine to a large extent the acquisitions. This implies that a large share of acquisitions, follows the activity of NIRAS. As
operating costs increase more than the operating charges decrease, operating income (J) decrease from 3.7 million euros in 2009 to 2.7 million
euros in 2010. The lower financial result (K) (-0.3 million euros) is due to declining interest rates on investments. Taxes (L) decreased by 0.6 million
euros due to the evolution of the taxable income.
Balance sheet
Total assets (C) drops sharply from 87 million to 65 million euros. On the asset side, the orders in progress (A) decrease with 14.7 million
euros due to the completion and taking into account of the PAMELA project. Trade receivables (B), namely ‘invoices to be made’, fell by
6.3 million euros compared to 2009. Of this, 4.2 million euros originated from the final settlement of the advances received for major repairs
from NIRAS. The assets remain in line with the previous year. The changes to the liability side are explained by a sharp decline in payments
received (D) (with 19.2 million euros) and the disappearance of the "other liabilities" (E) (5.4 million euros). The payments received were the
sales invoices of the PAMELA project. By closing and completing this project, the sales invoices were transferred to the turnover account (G).
Belgoprocess paid the loan from the Belgian State, totalling 5.4 million euros in 2010. The State attributed the loan as working capital in 1989,
initially until the end of 2018.
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ASSETS (IN 1,000 EUR) 2010 2009 ∆ EUR ∆ % LIABILITIES (IN 1,000 EUR) 2010 2009 ∆ EUR ∆ %
FIXED ASSETS 1,258 1,151 107 9.28 SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY 25,853 23,140 2,713 11.72
Intangible fixed assets 43 40 3 6.92 Capital 5,000 5,000 0 0,00
Tangible fixed assets 1,213 1,109 104 9.37 Reserves 524 526 -3 -0.56
Buildings 123 167 -44 -26.21 Profit carried over 20,329 17,613 2,716 15.42
Installations 667 535 133 24.83 PROVISIONS AND DEFERRED TAXES 7,641 7,996 -356 -4.45
Office and IT equipment & vehicles 422 407 15 3.68 Pensions 6,535 6,783 -248 -3.65
Financial fixed assets 1 1 0 7.84 Major repairs and contracts 100 100 0 0,00
Cash deposits 1 1 0 8.90 Other risks and costs 990 1,096 -106 -9.66
LIQUID ASSETS 64,139 86,404 -22,264 -25.77 Deferred taxes 16 18 -2 -11.11
Accounts receivable after 1 year 0 1 -1 -100,00 CREDITORS 31,903 56,418 -24,515 -43.45
Stocks and orders in progress 6,068 20,552 -14,484 -70.47 Accounts payable after 1 year 3 3 0 0,00
Stocks 2,576 2,345 231 9.84 Accounts payable within 1 year 22,987 47,752 -24,765 -51.86
Orders in progress 3,492 18,207 -14,715 -80.82 A Trade debts 4,347 4,327 20 0.47
Accounts receivable within 1 year 7,873 14,217 -6,344 -44.62 Advances received on orders 14,761 33,991 -19,229 -56.57 D
Trade receivables 7,474 13,744 -6,269 -45.62 B Debts relating to remuneration and taxes 3,879 4,079 -200 -4.91
Other accounts receivable 399 473 -74 -15.71 Taxes 488 1,007 -519 -51.52
Investments 36,555 23,634 12,921 54.67 Remuneration and social security 3,390 3,072 319 10.37
Cash 13,046 27,802 -14,756 -53.07 Other debts 0 5,355 -5,355 -100,00 E
Accruals 597 197 399 202.12 Accruals 8,913 8,664 250 2.88
TOTAL ASSETS 65,397 87,555 -22,158 -25.31 C TOTAL LIABILITIES 65,397 87,555 -22,158 -25.31
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INCOME STATEMENT (IN 1,000 EUR) 2010 2009 ∆ EUR ∆ %
OPERATING INCOME 45,167 41,739 3,428 8.21 F
Turnover 59,015 41,212 17,803 43.20 G
Changes to order in progress -14,399 -15 -14,384 97362.23 H
Other operating income 551 542 10 1.80
OPERATING CHARGES 42,477 38,028 4,448 11.70 I
Commodities 6,684 5,677 1,008 17.75
Purchases 6,919 5,957 962 16.14
Increase/decrease in stock -235 -281 46 -16.34
Services and other goods 10,532 8,613 1,919 22.29
Remuneration. social security and pensions 22,958 21,532 1,426 6.62
Depreciation and amounts written off 481 568 -88 -15.41
Depreciation of stock 256 77 178 230.51
Appropriation/use provisions -354 -554 200 -36.18
Other operating costs 1,920 2,115 -196 -9.26
OPERATING PROFIT (-LOSS) 2,690 3,711 -1,020 -27.49 J
Financial result 908 1,205 -297 -24.62 K
PROFIT ON ORDINARY OPERATIONS 3,599 4,915 -1,317 -26.79
Extraordinary result 14 34 -20 -59.55
PROFIT BEFORE TAXES 3,612 4,949 -1,337 -27.01
Tax on result 896 1,464 -563 -38.57 L
PROFIT APPROPRIATION FOR THE YEAR 2,716 3,490 -774 -22.18
A31 inflammablealphacontaminatedsolidwaste.
A3X Alphacontaminatedsolidwaste.
ALARA Aslowasreasonablyachievable.
B09 Alphacontaminatedorganic
liquids.
Becquerel Unitofradioactiveradiation,thedecayofoneatomic
nucleuspersecond.Becauseofthefactthatitisa
verysmallunit,oneusuallyworkswithmultiples
MBq(megaormillion)andGBq(gigaorbillion).
BN Belgonucleaire,Dessel.
BR3 BelgianReactor3;prototypeofaresearchreactor
of the PWR type of the Centre for Nuclear
ResearchSCK;isnowbeingdecommissionedand
decontaminated.
Building 155X Storagebuildingforradiumcontaminatedandnon-
radiumcontaminatedalphacontainingconditioned
wastewithgeologicalfinaldestination.
Building 156X StorageplacefornuclearfuelfromtheBR3.
Building 280X Buildingonsite2forthetreatmentandconditioning
ofmediumandhighactivewasteindrystorage.
Category A Low-levelshort-livedwaste.
CILVA Centralinfrastructurefortheprocessingoflow-level
solidwaste.
COGEMA Compagnie générale des matières nucléaires
(reprocessingplant),LaHague.
Eurobitum Installationfortheconditioningofliquidconcentrates
inbitumen.
HLCW High-levelconditionedwaste.
HLSW High-levelsolidwaste.
HRA Storagesiteformedium-andhigh-levelnon-active
waste.
ILCW Intermediate-levelconditionedwaste.
ILSW Intermediate-levelsolidwaste.
IRE NationalInstituteforradioisotopes,Fleurus.
IRMM Instituteforreferencematerialsandmeasurements.
LLCW Low-levelconditionedwaste.
MONA Thenon-profitassociationMolsConsultationon
NuclearWastevzw
NIRAS NationalInstituteforRadioactiveWasteandEnriched
Fissilematerial.
PAMELA PilotinstallationatMolfortheVitrificationofHigh
ActiveLiquidWastewasconvertedfortheprocessing
ofpartofthehistoricHRA/Solariumwaste.
Pyrolysis Chemicalprocesswherebyasubstanceinalow-
oxygenenvironmentisbrokendownbyexposureto
heatintosimplercompounds.
SCK Studiecentrumvoorkernenergie(CentreforNuclear
Research),Mol.
Sievert Unit for dose. Because this is a large unit the
millisievert(onethousandth)andthemicrosievert
(millionth) are often used. The dosage rate is
expressedperunitoftime,e.g.nanosievertperhour.
Site 1 Site of the former experimental reprocessing
plant Eurochemic at Dessel, now managed by
Belgoprocess.
Site 2 SiteofSCK’sformerwasteprocessingdepartment
"Waste",nowoperatedbyBelgoprocess.
Solarium Acoveredstorageareaforintermediatelevelwaste,
situatedatsite2.
STORA RadioactiveWasteStudyandConsultationGroup,
Dessel.
Weighted radioactivity
Inthedischargelicenceformula,aweightingfactoris
assignedtothemeasuredradioactivematerials.This
providesagaugeofthevariousradioactivematerials’
harmfuleffectsonman.
Abbreviations used
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