Decommissioning Programme

The first Krško NPP Decommissioning Programme with a cost estimate was developed by the German company NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH (NIS) back in 1996 (the so-called Preliminary Decommissioning Plan, or PDP), prior to the Bilateral Agreement. After the mutual acceptance of the Agreement, the Intergovernmental Commission confirmed the Terms of Reference for the creation of the First Revision of the Programme in 2003. The primary purpose of the First Revision was to estimate the total costs of the Krško NPP decommissioning and RW and SNF disposal in order to adjust the annual payments of the Slovenian co-owner of the Krško NPP to the Slovenian Fund for financing the decommissioning of the Krško NPP and disposal of RW and SNF, as well as define the obligations of the Croatian co-owner of the Krško NPP toward the corresponding Fund in Croatia, which was yet to be established. The First Revision was prepared by APO d.o.o. from Zagreb, ARAO from Ljubljana and the Krško NPP, with the cooperation of professional organisations in Croatia and Slovenia and experts engaged through International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)technical cooperation project. The document was reviewed by the company Electricite de France (EDF). The First Revision of the Programme is based on the fact that the Krško NPP will operate until 2023. Several strategies for decommissioning the power plant and management radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel were analysed, and generic facilities for storage and disposal of SNF, i.e. disposal of LILW, were foreseen. After the total costs assessment, it was estimated that EUR 28.5 million should be paid annually into both national funds so that the accumulated funds could cover all the costs of Krško NPP decommissioning and LILW and SNF disposal beyond 2023. The First Revision of the Programme, after previous approval by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, was confirmed by the Croatian Parliament on 8 December 2004 and accepted by the IC at its 7th session, held on 4 March 2005.

In accordance with the confirmed cost estimates, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a Regulation defining the annual payments of the Hrvatska elektroprivreda (HEP d.d.) in the amount of EUR 14.25 million. 

The preparation of the Second Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme started in August 2008. In this revision, the extension of the life of the power plant (until 2043) and five potential scenarios for the management of RW and SNF were considered. The text of the Second Revision of the Programme was prepared in June 2010, and revised at the request of the Expert Council, however, no external review was carried out nor was it further referred to the formal adoption procedure in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement. Since the Second Revision was not adopted, the annuities that HEP pays into the Fund have not changed. 

The decision to prepare the Third Revision of the NPP Decommissioning Programme and the Programme for Disposal of RW and SNF from the Krško NPP (hereinafter referred to as the Third Revision) was made at the 10th session of the IC in July 2015. The drafting of supporting technical studies and documents began after the confirmation of the Terms of references at the 11th session of the IC in November 2017. At the same IC session, the Coordination Committee for monitoring of the Third Revision was appointed, the extension of the life of the Krško NPP from 40 to 60 years, i.e. until 2043, and the construction of the SNF dry storage facility at the NPP site were confirmed, the construction and operation of which represent the operating costs of the power plant, and, due to new circumstances, all activities on the preparation of the Second Revision of the Programme were suspended.

The Third Revision of the Disposal Programme was prepared by the Fund for financing the decommissioning of the Krško NPP and ARAO as expert organisations, and the Krško NPP entrusted the Third Revision of the Decommissioning Programme to the company Siempelkamp NIS Ingenieurgesellschaft mbH. For the disposal of LILW, a waste division scenario is being analysed, according to which the Croatian half of LILW is managed in the Republic of Croatia (in accordance with the current Strategy and National Programme), and the Slovenian half of LILW is disposed of in the Republic of Slovenia. For the management of SNF, a joint scenario with an on-site dry storage at the Krško NPP site and a deep geological repository of SNF is envisaged. As part of the Third Revision, the following expert support studies were produced: “The Analysis of the Potential Division and Takeover of Krško NPP Operational and Decommissioning Radioactive Waste”, “Revised Reference Scenario for Geological Disposal Facility in Hard Rock with Cost Estimation for its Implementation”, “A Revision of the RW Management Concept in Croatia”, and “Setting a Discount Rate for Determining the Cash Flow and Yield for a Long-Term Investment of the Fund”.

The Third Revision documents were adopted by the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Croatian Parliament, and the Government of the Republic of Slovenia, after a review (organized within the framework of the IAEA’s technical assistance projects (CRO9012 and SLO9019)) and the presentation of the results at the 13th session of the IC in September 2019. At the meeting, it was decided that a joint solution regarding the disposal of the Krško NPP’s LILW is not possible, and thus each state shall continue to develop and implement their own solutions for the management their halves of the Krško NPP LILW. At the 14th session of the IC in July 2020, the Third Revision was confirmed by the Intergovernmental Commission.

Upon confirmation of the Third Revision, the Government of the Republic of Croatia adopted a new Regulation on the amount, term and method of payment of funds for financing the decommissioning and disposal of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel of the Krško Nuclear Power Plant (official gazette “Narodne novine”, no. 156/22), which prescribed annuities in the amount of EUR 9.76 million. 

Izrada Četvrte revizije započela je nakon usvajanja projektnih zadataka na 16. sjednici MDP-a održanoj u travnju 2022. godine, pri čemu je stručnim organizacijama naloženo da izrade reviziju prijedloga podjele radioaktivnog otpada iz 2018. godine, sukladno pretpostavkama iz Izvješća Koordinacijskog odbora. Za potrebe Četvrte revizije izrađene su i druge potporne studije: Studija za odlaganje ING u duboko geološko odlagalište s novom procjenom troškova, Studija za odlaganje ING-a u duboke bušotine, Revizija studije određivanja diskontne stope za potrebe izračuna diskontiranih troškova, Optimizacija podjele i preuzimanja NSRAO-a koji je nastao do 31.12.2023. godine te Razvojno-istraživački Program za zajedničko odlaganje ING-a i visoko-radioaktivnog otpada u duboko geološko odlagalište u Hrvatskoj ili Sloveniji. 

Četvrta revizija, osim rada NE Krško do 2043. godine, razmatra i mogućnost dodatnog produljenja rada NEK-a (do 2063. godine), kao i moguće produljenje rada suhog skladišta ING-a na lokaciji elektrane. Analizirana su četiri scenarija razgradnje i zbrinjavanja RAO-a i ING-a za koje su načinjene procjene troškova. Zbrinjavanje ING-a je zajednički projekt Hrvatske i Slovenije, pri čemu su analizirani različiti koncepti odlaganja. Svaka zemlja zbrinjava svoju polovicu NSRAO-a u skladu s nacionalnim strategijama i programima.

Na 17. sjednici MDP-a donesene su odluke o odgodi početka preuzimanja proizvodnog NSRAO-a iz NE Krško do početka 2028. godine. MDP je naložio Fondu i ARAO da što prije krenu s izgradnjom postrojenja za zbrinjavanje NSRAO-a kako bi započeli s preuzimanjem otpada najkasnije 2028. godine, a NEK-u da provede sve potrebne aktivnosti kako bi se osigurao dovoljan kapacitet za skladištenje NSRAO-a do početka 2028. godine. 

Prijedlog dokumenta Četvrte revizije Programa odlaganja RAO-a i ING-a iz NEK-a dovršen je u srpnju 2024. godine, te je proveden postupak nezavisne recenzije dokumenta u suradnji s IAEA-om. Očekuje se da će Četvrta revizija, nakon prezentacije na sljedećoj sjednici Međudržavnog povjerenstva, biti upućena u postupak potvrđivanja i usvajanja u Hrvatskoj i Sloveniji tijekom 2025. godine.

The 1st session of the IC was held on 10 June 2003, in the premises of the Krško NPP. In accordance with the decisions of the 1st session, NEK d.o.o and expert organisations are in charge of creating Terms of References and drafts of activities necessary for the preparaton of the Krško NPP decommissioning programme and the RW and SNF disposal programme.

At the 2nd session of the IC, held on 2 July 2003 at the Krško NPP, the Terms of Reference for the development of the Krško NPP decommissioning and low and intermediate level radioactive waste (LILW) and spent nuclear fuel (SNF) Disposal Programme were accepted.

At the 3rd IC session, held on 3 September 2003 at the Krško NPP, it was confirmed that the development of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme is proceeding according to the agreed Time Plan. The organisation of the work was agreed upon, internal documentation was prepared, and an Expert Council was established to monitor the preparation of the Programme.

The 4th session of the IC was held on 2 October 2003 at the Krško NPP. The progress in the implementation of activities on the preparation of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme was presented, new inputs for the decommissioning and disposal scenario creation were presented, and new members of the Expert Council were appointed. The main subject of the session was the interpretation of the provisions of Annex 3 of the Bilateral Agreement and resolution of the dispute on compensation for undelivered energy to HEP.

At the 5th session held on 1 April 2004 at the Krško NPP, the IC was informed of the developed Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme, and mandated the NPP to ensure an independent international review of that Programme.

At the 6th session held on 23 June 2004 at the Krško NPP, the IC was informed of the international review of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme and determined that it confirms the assumptions and conclusions of the Programme. It was decided to present the final text of the Programme to the public and send it to the official adoption procedure in both countries. At the same time, an expert opinion from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the developed Programme was also requested.

At its 7th session held on 4 March 2005 at the Krško NPP, the IC confirmed the final text of the First Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme from June 2004.

The confirmation of the 1st Revision of the Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme from the Krško NPP enabled the initiation of formal activities for the establishment of the Croatian Fund for Financing the Decommissioning of the Krško NPP and the Disposal of Krško NPP Radioactive Waste and Spent Nuclear Fuel, in accordance with the obligations under Article 11 of the Bilateral Agreement.

At the 8th session held on 3 September 2008, the Terms of Reference for the preparation of the Second Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and LILW and SNF Disposal Programme were confirmed, and the members of the Expert Council who will monitor the preparation of the Second Revision were confirmed. The costs of producing the Second Revision were covered by national funds in equal proportions.

At its 9th session, held on 19 May 2010 at the Krško Nuclear Power Plant, the Intergovernmental Commission accepted the proposed amendments to the Terms of Reference for the preparation of the Second Revision, which included an extension of the deadline and additional funds for the work of professional organisations on the Second Revision and changes to the boundary conditions, and ordered the preparation of the Terms of Reference for the review of the Second Revision of the Programme.

In July 2015, the 10th session was held with a discussion on the operation of the Krško NPP, radioactive waste management in Croatia and Slovenia, the revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning and RW and SNF Disposal Programme and the collection of the resources in national funds. The most important conclusions of the IC are:

• confirmed the extension of the Krško NPP operational lifespan from 40 to 60 years (until 2043);
• confirmed the SNF dry storage project at the power plant site as part of the power plant’s operating costs;
• dry storage of SNF at the Krško NPP site until the end of its operational life defined as a joint solution in accordance with the Bilateral Agreement;
• due to new circumstances related to the long-term operation of the Krško NPP, all activities related to the drafting of the Second Revision of the Decommissioning and Disposal Programme are suspended;
• tasked expert organisations with drafting Terms of Reference for the Third Revision of the RW and SNF Disposal Programme (hereinafter: DIP Rev. 3) and the Third Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning Programme (hereinafter: (DP Rev. 3);
• maintained the current deposit rates for Croatian and Slovenian funds for decommissioning until the end of DEP Rev. 3 and DIP Rev. 3.

At the 11th IC session held on 21 November 2017, the Terms of Reference for the Third Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning Programme (DP) and the Third Revision of the RW and SNF Disposal Programme (DIP) were accepted. The IC ordered that the Third Revision of the DIP be prepared by ARAO and the Fund in cooperation with Krško NPP, and the Third Revision of the Krško DP be prepared by Krško NPP in cooperation with ARAO and the Fund. At the same session, the Coordination Committee was appointed to monitor the implementation of the Third Revision of the DIP and DP (ICC), whose presidents are obliged to report to the competent ministers on the progress of programme preparation.  

IC supports the efforts of the two countries in the implementation of the obligations from the Bilateral Agreement and international regulations, especially in connection with the construction of capacities for the disposal of LILW. After consideration, the Croatian side did not accept the Slovenian offer for the joint Vrbina repository, as presented in Revision C of the Investment Programme. The IC tasked the Coordination Committee with preparing a potential joint proposal for LILW disposal and report to the IC.

At the 12th session of the IC held in January 2019, a report on the work of Krško NPP, preliminary results of the Third Revision of the Decommissioning Programme and the Disposal Programme, possibilities and conditions for a joint solution for the disposal of LILW, as well as the balances of collected resources of the Croatian and Slovenian funds.

The IC has tasked members of the ICC and professional organisations with further cost optimisation and completing the Third Revision documents by May 2019.

The IC instructed the ICC to continue to seek a solution for the implementation of the joint LILW repository project and to analyse the compliance of the current technical solutions with the requirements of both parties, and to report the results to the IC in September 2019. ARAO and the Fund are invited to hire legal experts to assess the necessary legal changes for the implementation of the joint project.

At the 13th session held on September 30 2019, the documents and results of the Third Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning Programme and the Krško NPP RW and SNF Disposal Programme were presented. The IC took note of the Third Revision and referred it to the further procedure of preliminary confirmation in both signatory countries.

The ICC reported that a joint solution for the disposal of LILW was not possible, however, the possibility for further consultations was left until the next session.

In July 2020, the 14th session was held, at which the Third Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning Programme and the Krško NPP RW and SNF Disposal Programme was confirmed. The Krško NPP Management Board’s report on the Krško NPP operations, the report of the national funds on the balances of collected resources, and the results of the Third Revision of both programmes were presented. The IC dissolved the Coordination Committee, given that all its tasks had been fulfilled, and tasked expert organisations (the Krško NPP, ARAO and the Fund) to start preparing the project Terms of Reference for the Fourth Revision of the DIP and DP.

The 15th session was held in Bled on 20 October 2021, at which the operation of the power plant and the excellent operational and safety results of Krško NPP were presented. Reports on the balances of collected resources in the Slovenian and Croatian funds were also presented. The fulfilment of the objectives of the Third Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning Programme and the Krško NPP RW and SNF Disposal Programme was discussed at the session, as well as the beginning of the preparation of the Fourth Revision. It was agreed to appoint a new Coordination Committee (ICC) to prepare future activities.

The 16th session of the IC was held in Rijeka on 4 April 2022, at which the work of the power plant since the last session and reports on the balances of collected resources in the Slovenian and Croatian funds were presented. The preparation of the Fourth Revision of the Krško NPP Decommissioning Programme and the Krško NPP RW and SNF Disposal Programme was discussed at the session, as well as the Coordination Committee’s report on activities related to preparations for the division and takeover of low and intermediate level radioactive waste from the Krško NPP.

The 17th IC session was held in Krško on 2 October 2023, at which, in addition to the standard presentation on the operation of the power plant since the last session and a report on the balances of collected resources in the Slovenian and Croatian funds, the preparation of the Fourth Revision and a special report of the Coordination Committee (ICC) were discussed. The ICC reported on the preparations for the division and takeover of the stored LILW from the Krško NPP, the possibilities of conditioning and processing of LILW, and the construction of the capacities necessary for storage, i.e. disposal of waste in both countries. 

The Intergovernmental Commission mandated ARAO and the Fund with carrying out all necessary actions for the functioning of the Vrbina repository on the Slovenian side, and the Čerkezovac storage facility on the Croatian side, in order to begin taking over the LILW from the Krško NPP in 2028. The Krško NPP must take all actions to ensure safe storage of LILW at the site by 2028. It has been confirmed that the Croatian side does not have to continue with the 1st phase of the takeover of LILW from the Krško NPP, given that the start of the takeover is being moved to the beginning of 2028.