Radioactive Waste & Materials Management Laboratory

The goal of RWML operation is the radioactive waste management in accordance with the requirements and safety standards of the International Atomic Energy agency (IAEA) to protect the public health and the environment without undue financial burden on society.

RWML operates the Centralized Facility for Radioactive Waste and Sources Management in the country, being also responsible for upgrading and developing the facility.  The activities of the Laboratory are mainly developmental and its engagement with research focuses on targeted topics for immediate application in problem solving. The Laboratory prepares high level technical studies in its subject and technical reports in the fields of its activities. The research activities of the Laboratory are mainly aimed at patents. Its research interests focus on the development of methods for the radiological characterization of facilities, radioactive waste and NORM, which are supported by European funds for Research & Development of Horizon 2020 as well as by the private sector.

RWML works with a number of organizations across Europe, active in its field and has a primary role at European level in investigation of safe and cost-effective solutions for small amounts of radioactive waste.

The main research Activities of the Laboratory are:

• Upgrade and development of the Centralize Facility in Greece for Management of Radioactive Waste and Sources.
• Contribution to the development of national policy for management of radioactive waste and to selection of strategies – Participation in the National Committee for Management of Radioactive Waste.
• Investigation of solutions for management of small amounts of radioactive waste, mainly for Member States of EU with a small waste inventory (participation in EURAD WP9 “ROUTES”, Horizon 2020, 2019-2024).
• Decommissioning of nuclear facilities, mainly research reactors and radioactive waste management facilities (participation in the IAEA DACCORD project, 2011-2019).
• Development of a technique for the radiological characterization of drilling mud from oil extraction (Industrial Scholarships of the Niarchos Foundation in collaboration with POLYECO S.A. 2017-2021).
• Development of techniques for optimization of metallic waste characterization and procedures, for minimization of waste arising from decommissioning of nuclear facilities, for the purpose of recycling (participation in the PREDIS WP4 “Innovations in metallic material treatment and conditioning”, Horizon 2020, 2020-2024).
• Provision of services:
  • Withdrawal of disused radioactive sources including Am-241 and Ra-226 fire detectors as well as Ge-68 and Co-57 calibration sources for medical equipment.
  • Elaboration of studies related to radiological characterization of facilities and waste as well as decontamination.
  • Elaboration of radiation protection studies.
  • Development of decommissioning plans for nuclear installations.
  • Preparation of reports for radioactive waste installations, pre-disposal stage.