Radioactive waste disposal at the Yeniseiskiy site and the development of radiochemical research

18 months ago, a paper was published exploring in detail the tasks related to the development of the Unified State System for Radioactive Waste Management (USS RW) [1]. Since then, certain positive developments have occurred in this area and some new circumstances have emerged mainly related to the development of the radiochemical research area and the corresponding increase in the anticipated load on the RW disposal system. In this regard, it seems important and relevant to highlight the current progress in the development of an underground research laboratory (URL) at the Yeniseiskiy site with a special focus placed on the compliance of the implemented iterative approach to the URL and later the DGR siting process with the globally accepted ones; to note the unique studies exploring the state of vitrified HLW; to analyze new data obtained from a strategic program fostering radiochemical research, in particular, in terms of requirements for the development of a disposal system for RW from SNF reprocessing and to more precisely state the priority tasks in this area.