Application for operating licence for the final disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel
January 12, 2022

Application for operating licence for the final disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel

Posiva Oy, the Finnish organisation that handles the final disposal of the spent nuclear fuel generated in the country, has recently submited to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland the application for the operating licence for a facility that will handle the encapsulation and final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. This new facility concept is known as ONKALO® and will be the first one in the world with these characteristics.

Application for operating licence for the final disposal facility of spent nuclear fuel
Workers inspect the site of the future ONKALO depository site

The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) is in charge of conducting a safety assessment of the application and of the oversight of the construction and commissioning of the nuclear facility. The actual final disposal activities are designed to start in mid-2020s.

Janne Mokka, Posiva's CEO and President, says Posiva now has "the capability to launch the first, demonstrably safe final disposal operation of spent fuel in the world in Olkiluoto."

Posiva has the capability to launch the first, demonstrably safe final disposal operation of spent fuel in Olkiluoto, Finland

Posiva's CEO and President adds that al the work "carried out for several decades to demonstrate long-term safety and develop the final disposal facility concept ONKALO® to suit the conditions of Olkiluoto has now been finalised". Now, we can "concentrate on the installation of equipment in the encapsulation plant and the final disposal repository, commissioning of the facility and preparations for operational activities."

Posiva Oy final isposal of spent nuclear fuel animation

Source: Posiva Oy

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