Comparison between Nuclear Decommissioning and Mining and Mineral Processing Industries and Lessons Learned

Abstract

When nuclear decommissioning projects and mining and mineral processing (MMP) projects are compared side by side, one finds many similarities between these two industries. The complexity of the project, environmental considerations, technologies being used, cost of projects and project risks are starkly similar between them. For instance, both industries are subject to high regulatory scrutiny and have similar environmental footprints/consequences. The projects require several years of planning, often running over a decade. The cost of nuclear power plant decommissioning is comparable to a typical MMP project.

In terms of technology, the MMP industry is widely using hydrometallurgical processes to separate out radionuclides from bulk ore materials (e.g. uranium mining and rare earth mining) already. Pyrometallurgical techniques are commercially used to separate nuclides from metal on a large scale, and the MMP industry has analysis and simulation tools to readily apply the technologies to the nuclear decommissioning industry. Multi-level (4D+) Building Information Modelling (BIM) models are widely used to simulate complex field activities and optimize the movement of materials and people.

This paper compares the similarities and differences between these two industries and highlights key technologies and processes in the MMP industry that can be readily adopted by the nuclear decommissioning industry to improve productivity without re-inventing. Key lessons learned from MMP projects are highlighted as well.