Environmental permit granted for a new used nuclear fuel repository in Sweden
The Swedish nuclear waste company Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (SKB) has received an environmental permit from Sweden's Land and Environment Court to begin preparatory work on its final repository for used nuclear fuel in Forsmark and the encapsulation facility in Oskarshamn. SKB initially applied for this permission in 2011, and after a lengthy review process, the Swedish government approved the activity in 2022 under the Environmental Code. The recent court ruling now specifies conditions for SKB’s operations and allows initial work to proceed, even if appealed.
SKB has received an environmental permit to start preparations on Sweden's final nuclear fuel repository and an encapsulation facility
The permit covers radioactive waste from Sweden's existing 12 reactors, six of which are currently operational, but it excludes potential future reactors. SKB is authorized to store about 6,000 canisters, totalling 12,000 tonnes of nuclear waste, at a depth of approximately 500 meters in Forsmark. The facility's operational timeline is projected at 70 years, with possible extensions if reactor operating times increase.
The permit allows SKB to store up to 12,000 tonnes of nuclear waste from Sweden's existing reactors, with operations projected to last around 70 years
The permit includes strict environmental conditions, such as noise reduction, groundwater protection and discharge limitations, as well as provisions to protect species and natural areas in Forsmark. SKB must conduct environmental monitoring and ensure long-term information preservation for future generations. The permitted initial activities at Forsmark involve forest clearing, excavation for the operational area, construction for rock storage, and installation of nitrogen purification facilities.
Environmental safeguards include protections for groundwater, noise control,and measures to protect local species
SKB CEO Stefan Engdahl emphasized that conditions will protect the local environment, accounting for nesting birds, relocating protected species, and building bioreactors for nitrogen purification. Before tunnel excavation can begin, SKB must obtain a safety report approval from the Radiation Safety Authority (SSM), which will monitor the project’s compliance with nuclear safety regulations.
Construction of the Forsmark repository will start two years before the Oskarshamn encapsulation facility, with both expected to be operational by the mid-2030s. This project mirrors Finland’s geological repository at Olkiluoto, where Posiva applied for an operating license to extend until 2070 after beginning construction in 2016.
Source: World Nuclear News
Construction on the Forsmark repository will begin two years before the Oskarshamn facility, with both expected to be operational by the mid-2030s
