Online news

STUK ruling: Posiva can commence construction of final disposal facility

29 November 2016, 13:32 EET

​The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority’s (STUK) decision on 25 November gives the go ahead for Posiva to commence construction on the underground final disposal facilities for spent nuclear fuel in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki. In its decision, STUK states that Posiva has the capability to commence works under the terms of the construction licence issued for the final disposal facility.

The government issued the construction licence for the encapsulation and final disposal facility to Posiva in November 2015. Under the Nuclear Energy Decree, however, it is not permitted to commence the construction of a nuclear facility until STUK has inspected the documents and plans pertaining to the project. STUK must be persuaded that all safety factors have been sufficiently taken into account.

Background:
For more than ten years, Posiva has been building an underground research facility, known as Onkalo, at the final disposal site. The research facility is not subject to the construction licence but the construction work has been noted in governments decision-in-principle approved by the Finnish Parliament. As Onkalo will form part of the wider final disposal site, STUK has continued to supervise progress at the site in line with the requirements on nuclear facility construction.

Source: STUK, webnews, 29, Nov 2016

Read more about the disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Finland (Posiva)