Demolition of the Rheinsberg nuclear power station. Current status, special occurrences, experience

The Rheinsberg nuclear power station (KKR), like the Greifswald nuclear power station (KGR), is part of Energiewerke Nord GmbH (EWN). Consequently, the demolition strategy, the licensing strategy, the waste management strategy, and project management of both demolition projects follow the principles valid at EWN. As KKR and KGR are located in different federal states, 2 nuclear supervisory authorities in the respective federal states are competent. One licensing procedure applying to both locations was out of the question. In addition to the administrative setup and the technical parameters, there are also differences and special features in the technical equipment of the 2 nuclear power plants and the conditions applying at the locations of KGR and KKR, which must be taken into account. The article refers to some key items of decommissioning the Rheinsberg nuclear power station in the period between 2002 and 2007. On the whole, demolition of the Rheinsberg nuclear power station has progressed well. By late 2007, approx. 76% of the equipment to be demolished has been dismantled. Demolition of the equipment of KKR is to be completed probably by 2012. Since the closure of the Morsleben repository for radioactive waste (ERAM) in September 1998, the solid radioactive waste arising has been disposed of in the Nord interim store (ZLN) near Lubmin.