The aim of the project was to identify feasible rational routes for the decommissioning of two nuclear power units of the former RF Navy Training Centre on the Pakri peninsula in Estonia. The main purpose of this project was to evaluate, on the basis of cost estimations and radiological impact evaluation, the decommissioning strategies that were drawn up in the drawing up of potential dismantling strategies, and to recommend the most convenient one.
Two decommissioning strategies have been identified:
Final disposal of the Reactor Compartments as a whole

• in situ, in the sarcophagi, avoiding Reactor Compartments removal operations.

• in a near surface disposal facility located on the Paldiski site.

 
Full dismantling of the Reactor Compartments

• Minimising cutting works in order to lower personnel exposure.

• Decontamination and cutting components into small pieces in order to sort wastes, in view to reduce the resulting waste volume (using or not melting devices).

The different strategies drawn up appear to be deeply different. The result of their implementation would be quite different, and the estimated cost of the most expensive strategy is nearly three times as much the cost of the less expensive option.
Even if the first strategy could be compliant with the progress Estonian regulations regarding radioactive waste management, the European Community enlargement process will inevitably result in regulations evolutions towards a same standard. As a consequence the choice of the first strategy could be called into question in a middle term or long term.
 
For these reasons, the full dismantling of the Paldiski reactor compartments is recommended, after a storage period of 50 years.
After this period, a founding plan should be drawn up in order to carry out the full dismantling of the reactor compartments after the 50 years storage period.