The future high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Malaysia would be attributed to the spent fuel from the

PUSPATI TRIGA Reactor (RTP), the only research reactor, if Malaysia remains with similar activity without

the nuclear energy. Managing a small inventory of HLW posed a specific challenge particularly if the spent

fuel remains in Malaysia for further back end management.

Characterization of RTP Nuclear Fuel and the Assessment of its Back-End Strategy

Norasalwa Zakaria[1], Mohamad Annuar Assadat Husain[2] and Kang Wee Siang[1],

1Malaysian Nuclear Agency, 43000 Kajang, Selangor Malaysia 2 Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81200 Skudai, Johor Bahru, Malaysia

82 MALAYSIA

Hierarchy Structure Model

‘Send and Dispose Abroad’ disposal option is the highest ranking followed by ‘Dilute and Dispose as ILW’ , and ‘Reprocess Abroad and Waste Return as ILW’. However, the ‘Send and Dispose Abroad’ option is not far domineering over other alternatives. If this alternative is taken out of the consideration, the ‘Reprocess Abroad, Dispose as ILW’ stands as the most favourable option. The least preferred is the ‘Direct Disposal as HLW’ alternative.

The objective of this study is to assess and rank the disposal options for the RTP future spent fuel. Four alternative options were identified and eight criteria comprising of technical and non-technical elements were assessed into the selection of the disposal option. Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) methodology using Analytical Hierachy Process (AHP) and pair-wise comparison matrices

were used to merit the various criteria and alternatives. Response survey from 20 respondents were

obtained from academician, waste operator and reactor operator community.

Introduction

Methodology

Conclusion Input data from questionnaire

AHP Assessment The weight vectors of criteria are multiplied with the score of alternatives/options to get the

priority of each alternative

For further information, please contact: Director General,

Malaysian Nuclear Agency, Bangi 43000 KAJANG Selangor Malaysia Attn: Norasalwa Zakaria

Waste and Environmental Division,

Email: norasalwa@nm.gov.my Tel: 603-89112000 Fax: 603-89252155

RTP Fuel

Results and Discussions

Fuel Characterization • Fuel elements : ID 9319 and ID 9009 • Dose rate : 22.6 Svhr-1 and 554.7 mSvhr-1 • Source term: Dominantly Xe-131m (192 Ci) and Kr-85 (124 Ci) (Assume 20 wt% and U-235 (55g U-235

and 428.61 g U-238) irradiated continuously at 1MW for 1 year)

Criterion Weight vectors

Industrial and

technical 0.10

Human resources 0.12

Environmental impact 0.29

Legal and institutional 0.10

Public acceptance 0.11

Political support 0.12

International

partnerships 0.08

Cost 0.07

Acknowledgement:

•IAEA CRP T33001 • Ms Nurul Ida Suhana Lias, Ecole Nationale Superieure Des Mines de Nantes, France