Finland to Open World’s First Permanent Nuclear Waste Repository
Finland is set to reach a historic milestone in nuclear energy after its government approved an operating licence for the world’s first permanent underground repository for spent nuclear fuel. The country’s nuclear waste management company, Posiva, confirmed the development on Thursday, October 23.
After around 22 years of construction and preparation, the underground repository, known as Onkalo, in western Finland is nearing the final stage before operations begin. The Finnish word “Onkalo” means “cave”.
In a statement, Posiva Chief Executive Officer Ilkka Poikolainen described the day as a major milestone for both the company and Finland. He said the necessary tests and inspections would be completed before full operations begin, subject to verification and approval by Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK).
The repository is designed to permanently store around 6,500 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel from Finland’s five nuclear reactors. The waste will be sealed in highly corrosion-resistant copper canisters and placed in boreholes drilled deep into solid bedrock. The openings will then be sealed with bentonite clay and specially designed plugs.
Scientists say spent nuclear fuel will remain highly radioactive for thousands of years. Its radioactivity is expected to decline to levels comparable to those of natural uranium ore after around 100,000 years.
Since the first nuclear power plants began operating in the 1950s, the long-term management of nuclear waste has remained a major challenge worldwide. Most countries still store their nuclear waste in temporary facilities.
Although countries such as Sweden and France are developing permanent repositories, Finland is set to become the first country to bring this type of deep geological facility into operation.
Built at an estimated cost of $1.16 billion, the project could provide a model for other countries that use nuclear power.
Source: Al Jazeera
