Nuclear Waste Disposal and Decommissioning: Are Costs Too High?

Abstract

<p> The great controversy surrounding the use of nuclear power as an electrical source has been further augmented by the problems associated with nuclear waste disposal and nuclear plant decommissioning. This paper focuses on the aspects and estimated costs of waste disposal and decommissioning. Comparison of cost estimates done by independent studies with those done by Ontario Hydro indicate that Hydro is grossly underestimating the costs of waste disposal and decommissioning. This result leads to the conclusion that Ontario Hydro is undervaluing the costs of nuclear waste disposal and decommissioning to justify its use of nuclear power in Ontario. Wide variations in cost estimates for decommissioning, and a lack of cost estimates for nuclear waste disposal, indicate that extensive research is needed in the discipline of cost estimation for waste disposal and decommissioning.</p>