Finland’s government has issued an operating licence for Onkalo, a permanent underground facility designed to store spent nuclear fuel, marking a significant milestone in global nuclear waste management. The licence was granted to waste management company Posiva on Thursday. While the licence does not immediately allow the facility to begin operations, company officials indicated that commencement is expected in the near term, though a specific opening date remains undetermined despite construction efforts spanning 22 years.
Onkalo, located in western Finland and whose name means “cave” in the local language, is engineered to provide permanent storage for approximately 6,500 tonnes of uranium-based fuel from Finland’s five operating nuclear reactors. The repository uses a multi-layered containment approach in which spent fuel is enclosed in copper canisters chosen for their corrosion resistance. These canisters are then placed into holes drilled deep into bedrock, surrounded by bentonite clay, and sealed with steel-reinforced concrete plugs designed to provide long-term isolation.
The repository addresses a challenge that has confronted the nuclear industry since the 1950s, when the first commercial reactors began operation. Nations worldwide have grappled with securing radioactive waste, with most currently relying on temporary storage solutions. Finland is positioned to become the first country to operationalize an underground permanent repository, though similar facilities are under development in neighbouring Sweden and France.
Before beginning final disposal operations, Posiva must complete a commissioning phase involving comprehensive testing and inspections subject to verification and approval by the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. The facility’s construction and development have carried an estimated cost of approximately $1.16 billion.
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