ECOMET-S JSC

ECOMET-S has been operating since 1994. The company was established to introduce environmental, resource-saving and environmental technologies in the field of handling metal waste contaminated with radioactive substances (MOZRV), generated at nuclear power and industry facilities. The main activity of the enterprise is the provision of services for the processing and disposal of WMRM in order to reduce the volume of solid radioactive waste sent for disposal, and return the metal to the industry for unlimited use.

In order to solve the problem of handling RTWRM, a complex technology for processing and disposal was developed, which makes it possible to return most of the contaminated metal after its purification to the industry for reuse, and the resulting secondary radioactive waste, the amount of which does not exceed 10% of the initial volume of NRWT, is transferred into an environmentally safe form, convenient and safe for transportation and burial. The technology is based on the use of the remelting method at the final stage of handling metal waste.

On the basis of the developed technology 'ECOMET-S' in October 1994, a modular pilot plant for the processing of MOZRV was created with a capacity of up to 1500 tons per year. This installation was located at the site of the Leningrad Specialized Plant 'Radon' in the city of Sosnovy Bor, Leningrad Region, and was used to develop technologies for the processing and disposal of various types of MOZRV and from various objects, to test equipment and control devices, to modify individual units of the installation, to train personnel and etc.

In the period 24.11 - 01.12.1994, the installation and remelting technology of the MOZRV were tested in the presence of the Commission formed by the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Atomic Energy. The Commission recommended '... to use a pilot remelting plant developed by ECOMET-S JSC as a basic option for creating an industrial plant for the processing and disposal of ROZRV ...' and to continue work on developing the technology in order to introduce the remelting method at Minatom facilities. Taking into account the results of the commission's work, the Minister for Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation addressed the Government with a request to support the development of a targeted program for the processing of metallic radioactive waste. On the basis of the Order of the Government of April 17, 1995, a draft target Program was prepared, which was considered and agreed upon in the relevant Ministries. Target Program 'Processing and disposal of metallic radioactive waste '  was approved by the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 01, 1995 No. 1197-r and accepted for execution by Order of the Minister for Atomic Energy No. 371 of 02.10.1995. According to the Decree of the Government JSC 'ECOMET-S' was appointed as the Lead executor of the Program.

For the purpose of state support for the target Program, the Government of the Russian Federation issued  Decree No. 1179-r   dated August 20, 1997. The Decree instructs Minatom enterprises to transfer Group I metal radioactive waste (low-level waste category) to JSC ECOMET-S for processing and disposal in order to obtaining metal suitable for reuse. Such metal obtained after processing should be transferred to the ownership of ECOMET-S JSC for sale in order to return loans, compensate for costs and carry out other activities of the target Program.

In 2001, at the industrial site of the Leningrad NPP, the enterprise completed the construction of an industrial complex for the processing and disposal of WMZRV, equipped with sophisticated modern technological equipment. Works on the construction of the complex were carried out on the basis of licenses from the Gosatomnadzor of Russia for the right to place and construct a radiation source and in accordance with the Working Design developed by the Sosnovoborsk State Design and Survey Institute VNIPIET. The project documentation was developed taking into account the five-year experience gained as a result of the operation of a pilot plant for the processing of MOZRV, and passed the necessary approvals from the state oversight bodies. The industrial complex for the processing and disposal of the MOZRV was put into operation by the Act of the State Acceptance Commission in February 2002.

The operation of the complex complies with the requirements of regulatory documents in the field of environmental protection, which is confirmed by the conclusion of the state environmental expertise, approved by the Order of Rostekhnadzor No. 657 dated 03.10.2007.

To date, ECOMET-S is a specialized enterprise that has the Decision of Rosatom (Ministry of Atomic Energy of the Russian Federation) on recognition as an organization suitable for operating nuclear facilities (status of an operating organization). To carry out its activities, ECOMET-S JSC has the necessary licenses from Rostekhnadzor and relevant permits from other supervisory and regulatory authorities. The control of the state of the environment and the process of processing of the MOZRV is carried out by special laboratories accredited by Rosstandart.