Rosatom begins operation of 1,000-year radioactive waste facility

Rosatom has officially launched the first phase of a low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste isolation station in the Tomsk region. Designed with a lifespan of up to 1,000 years, the facility aims to isolate radioactive isotopes from the biosphere for durations far exceeding their natural half-lives.

The initial stage of the project has a design capacity of 15,000 cubic meters and is specialized to receive Class III and IV radioactive waste, including radiation protection equipment, ventilation filters, and construction scrap.

The facility utilizes a multi-layered defense system combining artificial technical barriers with natural geological barriers. This structure is engineered to withstand extreme natural disasters, including earthquakes of up to 7 degrees on the Richter scale and severe flooding.