TUKE University Joins Research Project on Safe Disposal of Radioactive Waste

Kosice, 22 August (TASR) - Kosice Technical University (TUKE) has become involved in research into the safe disposal of highly radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel through a new research project called X-Rock. The project focuses on the development and testing of geological barriers for a future deep geological repository. TUKE has told TASR that it's also collaborating with experts from Switzerland, Finland, the Czech Republic, Belgium and Japan. "The X-Rock project is a unique opportunity for our faculty to get involved in research that only a few countries in the world are currently undertaking. The disposal of highly radioactive waste is one of the most demanding technical challenges facing the nuclear energy sector, and I'm delighted that our scientists in particular can contribute to ensuring that the future Slovak repository will remain safe for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years to come," said Michal Cehlar, Dean of the Faculty of Mining, Ecology, Management and Geotechnologies at TUKE. The faculty's research team is investigating the behaviour of rocks and sealing materials under long-term exposure to heat, pressure and chemical processes. Specifically, this involves the development of new rock composites, research into engineering-geological barriers under simulated repository conditions, and the development of monitoring systems that will track the condition of the repository in real time using sensors and predictive analysis. The deep geological repository is intended to provide a permanent solution for high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel. Under this method, the waste is stored in stable rock formations at a depth of hundreds of metres and is separated from the surrounding environment by several independent safety barriers. According to TUKE, Slovakia will need such a solution within just under two decades. The project, with a budget exceeding €10 million, is set to run until 2029. In June, the opposition Progressive Slovakia (PS) party drew attention to the circumstances surrounding the funding of the X-Rock project, pointing out that vice-dean Samer Khouri is responsible for implementing it. He has sponsored the Voice-SD party and Peter Pellegrini's presidential campaign in the past, and he also serves as an adviser to Education Ministry State Secretary Robert Zsembera. At the same time, PS questioned the involvement of two private companies in the project and filed a criminal complaint. In response, the Education Ministry has filed a criminal complaint against PS MPs for defamation and false accusations. TUKE stated that the project was assessed by two independent expert evaluators from Slovakia and the Czech Republic and scored 14.5 points out of a maximum of 15. The Education Ministry rejected the allegations of a lack of transparency. According to the university, the evaluators deemed the involvement of partners to be justified, while the use of funds is to be monitored on an ongoing basis by the ministry as well as by national and European audit bodies. am/df