www.sogin.it

TOTAL TRANSPARENCY,
MAXIMUM SAFETY

Sogin is the public-sector company formed in 1999, as a spin-off of Enel’s Group, to manage the decommissioning of Italy’s nuclear power plants. In 2000, the ownership of Sogin was transferred from Enel to the Ministry for the Economy and Finance.

Sogin operates on the basis of the strategic guidelines set by the Ministry for Economic Development.

Sogin is also active in research, consulting and service provision in the nuclear, environmental and energy fields.

Sogin was created as part of the reform of the national electricity system. The company is responsible for dismantling nuclear power plants and handling their radioactive waste.

Sogin’s highly skilled technicians and experts work to achieve these objectives.

The four Italian nuclear power plants at Trino, Caorso, Latina and Garigliano were transferred to Sogin. In 2003, the company was charged with operating Enea’s fuel cycle research reactors and the Bosco Marengo plant, acquired in 2005.

Decommissioning nuclear power plants

Decommissioning is a normal part of the life cycle of all nuclear power plants. The purpose of nuclear decommissioning is to obtain the full release of nuclear power sites from radiological controls.

Decommissioning activities must be accompanied by safety measures to ensure the protection of the public, workers and the environment.

Decommissioning involves the dismantling of power plants and managing the radioactive waste produced in plant operation and during demolition.

Waste is stored on-site in safe conditions awaiting the transfer to the national waste storage repository.

Sogin pursues an ongoing policy of increasing safety awareness in order to ensure compliance with the highest international standards.

Handling spent fuel

The most important step in initiating the decommissioning process is the removal of the spent fuel used to produce electricity in nuclear power plants.

Nuclear fuel is reprocessed, an operation that enables the recovery of usable material by separating it from radioactive waste. This is placed in special containers for totally stable, safe storage.

At the end of the process, the waste can be stored for the necessary time at a surface storage facility.

Sogin has contracts with facilities abroad for the reprocessing of fuel from Italian nuclear power plants.

The reprocessed materials will be returned to Italy for storage at the national repository.

Financing

Decommissioning is financed through a special surcharge in electricity bill (the A2 rate component).

Other resources include provisions made by Enel and transferred to Sogin when it was established.

Italy’s Authority for Electricity and Gas covers the costs incurred for decommissioning on the basis of the activity plans prepared by Sogin.

Business development

In addition to its decommissioning duties, Sogin is also involved in research, consulting and service provision in the nuclear, environmental and energy fields both in Italy and abroad.

Sogin engages in these activities with a view to leveraging its facilities and skills, seeking out key market opportunities. In doing so, the company can maximize the use of its resources and enhance its know-how.

Sogin’s goal is to be recognized as a leader in the businesses where it operates.

Sogin activities abroad: Kazakhstan, Russia, Armenia, Ukraine, Romania, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Ispra, the European research plant located in the North of Italy.

Web: www.sogin.it