Finland has moved closer to launching the world's first deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel. The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK has issued a positive opinion on the operating licence for the Onkalo facility, built near the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on the country's western coast.
According to the authority, the facility meets the requirements for radiation and nuclear safety set out in Finnish nuclear energy law and related regulations. From a safety perspective, STUK therefore sees no obstacle to granting an operating licence.
However, the final decision must be made by the Finnish government. It will assess the application on the basis of materials prepared by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. Approval of the licence would mark the culmination of several decades of research, planning and construction.
STUK described the current phase of the project as a global milestone. It is the first geological repository for spent nuclear fuel to have reached the stage of an operating licence decision. Many other countries are preparing similar facilities, but none is yet as close to commencing regular operations.
The Onkalo repository was built by the Finnish company Posiva, owned by nuclear power plant operators Teollisuuden Voima and Fortum. The facility is located in solid granite bedrock at a depth of approximately 400 to 450 metres.
The spent fuel is first to be sealed in special metal canisters. These will then be placed in tunnels and surrounded by bentonite clay, which is intended to limit water ingress and the movement of radioactive substances. Once filled, individual sections of the repository will be progressively sealed.
The facility has a capacity of up to 6,500 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel. The proposed operating licence is valid until 2070. The actual disposal of waste and the sealing of underground spaces will, however, be a long-term process that may continue for several decades.
Finland regards deep geological disposal as the safest method for the long-term management of highly radioactive waste. The Onkalo project is therefore being closely watched by other countries seeking a permanent solution for waste generated by the operation of nuclear power plants.
gnews.cz - GH