Approval has been given for the first stage decommissioning of Australia’s original nuclear research reactor, a process that will take until 2030 and not apply to the reactor core.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Chief Regulatory Officer Jim Scott said the High Flux Australian Reactor (HIFAR), a 10 Megawatt research reactor that commenced operation in 1958, was permanently shutdown in 2007 and the spent fuel and heavy water removed.
Mr Scott said the ARPANSA CEO issued a license to Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) to possess and control HIFAR in September 2008.
He said In 2023 ANSTO submitted a licence application to commence early stages of decommissioning of HIFAR and following thorough review, public consultation and assessment, ARPANSA had determined that ANSTO had demonstrated it could safely commence limited decommissioning.
“The CEO has issued a license for the commencement of initial decommissioning work at HIFAR.
“As the independent regulator of Commonwealth entities that use or produce radiation, we have assessed ANSTO’s license application and found that the proposed decommissioning activities can be conducted without harming workers, the Australian people or the environment.”
Mr Scott said the license application was for limited decommissioning only, allowing ANSTO to use and retain the knowledge of the personnel who were involved in pre-decommissioning works and planning at the facility.
He said the reactor core would be decommissioned later and would require separate approval from ARPANSA’s CEO.
“It is expected that initial limited decommissioning work will commence in 2026 and take about four years to complete.”
