A meeting was held today at the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports regarding the issue of a repository for the disposal of radioactive waste, where it was agreed that the ‘Ruđer Bošković’ Institute cannot be a suitable location for the placement of a permanent radioactive waste repository.
The possibilities for experts from the IRB and the State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety to actively participate in urgently finding an appropriate location for such a repository were also discussed, given their rich theoretical and practical expertise and many years of experience in handling radioactive and other hazardous materials and their safe storage. At the same time, initiatives from numerous citizen associations and representatives of the civil sector regarding the complete relocation of the existing radioactive waste storage from the IRB, as well as the limitation of a series of activities conducted at the IRB, which involve the use of various types of sources of hazardous ionizing radiation or substances that produce hazardous waste, were considered.
This solution would simultaneously protect the employees of the IRB itself, as well as all individuals living near the institute, and beyond. Namely, it should be noted that at the time the IRB was established – in the late 1950s – the area of the city where the institute is located was a completely uninhabited periphery of the city. However, over the past half-century, this area has been intensively urbanized, and now numerous residential buildings are located right next to the fence of a large part of the institute. Additionally, at the beginning of the institute’s operations, only a few dozen scientists worked there, making it easy to organize radiation protection measures for them. Today, more than 800 people work at the IRB, so ensuring adequate protection for all employees from the effects of ionizing radiation and hazardous substances has become an extremely challenging problem that requires a comprehensive and permanent solution. Along with Minister Fuchs as the host, the meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Health and Social Welfare Darko Milinović, Minister of Environmental Protection and Physical Planning Marina Matulović-Dropulić, Director of the ‘Ruđer Bošković’ Institute (IRB) Danica Ramljak, and Director of the State Office for Radiological and Nuclear Safety (DZRNS) Dragan Kubelka.
