Disarmament and Decommissioning in the Nuclear Domain

The United Nations drafted treaties to limit nuclear proliferation, but four more states acquired nuclear weapons. An attempt to limit atomic weapons within the two superpowers failed, and new bombs are more powerful and precise. Civil nuclear use has a limited lifespan, and decommissioning generates radioactive waste. The International Atomic Energy Agency and the Nuclear Energy Agency have produced publications with recommendations, and each state has its own decommissioning strategy and final plan for the site.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 22 October 2021
Publisher: ISTE Ltd

After the acquisition of the atomic bomb by five states, the United Nations initiated the drafting of various treaties aimed at limiting nuclear proliferation. However, these endeavors proved unsuccessful, as four more states also acquired nuclear weapons. In a similar vein, an attempt was made to restrict atomic weapons, primarily between the two superpowers. While the total number of weapons has decreased, the newer bombs being manufactured are more powerful and precise, rendering any reduction in numbers insignificant. In the realm of civil nuclear use, all nuclear facilities, including reactors and factories, have a limited lifespan. Once a plant is permanently shut down, it requires extensive decommissioning and dismantling processes. These operations are challenging, time-consuming, and costly. Furthermore, decommissioning generates substantial volumes of radioactive waste, encompassing long-lived and high-activity waste. The risks to the environment and human health during decommissioning cannot be ignored. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) have published numerous publications offering recommendations. Each state has its own decommissioning strategy, which may be immediate or delayed, and a final plan for the site, whether it involves restoring it to greenfield status or obtaining a nuclear site license with long-term monitoring.

Weight: 652g
Dimension: 244 x 166 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786307217