Zoning potential near surface of radioactive waste with low and intermediate level waste in the territory of Vietnam

Abstract

     Radioactive waste treatment and management is one of the important issues not only for countries developing nuclear energy. In Vietnam, radioactive substances were also used around the early 1980s. According to annual statistics, about 100-150m³ of low-level radioactive waste is generated, mainly from researching activities and application in healthcare and industry. Up to now, the whole country has four units with used radioactive waste storage sites under the Geophysics Division (The Vietnam Geological Department) and units under the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute such as Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology, Da Lat Nuclear Research Institute, and Center for Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE). However, most of these warehouses are no longer able to store more radioactive waste. This study demonstrates a new approach to selecting locations with potential for storing and burying radioactive waste in Vietnamese territory. The potential zoning map for shallow burial of low- and medium-activity radioactive waste was established based on the overlay of 14 layers of information including natural features and environmental protection.