The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority’s (STUK) supervision report for the last third of 2023 indicates that the work and regulatory control of Posiva – the party responsible for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel – is proceeding without major problems, but at a slightly slower pace than previously anticipated.
Before Posiva can start operating the world's first spent nuclear fuel disposal facility in Eurajoki's Olkiluoto, it needs permission from the Government. A statement from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) is required for the permit decision Statement bases on STUK's own safety assessment. The Ministry of Labor and the Economy (MEAE) requested STUK's opinion by the end of 2023, if possible Since the processing of the operating licence application dossier is still pending at STUK, STUK has requested the MEAE to extend the deadline of the statement to the end of 2024.
STUK states in its triannual report that the volume of material to be inspected for the safety assessment of the operating licence is very large. Furthermore, STUK has not always been able to make its assessments on the basis of the first pieces of data submitted by Posiva, so Posiva has had to update that data. As a result, the processing of the dossier has taken longer than anticipated.
At the end of 2023, STUK has not only continued to prepare the safety assessment, but has also continued to supervise Posiva and the work it has performed. Items supervised include the installation of equipment at the above-ground encapsulation plant for spent nuclear fuel, test runs of the equipment and the test run plans, as well as the ongoing rock construction work in the underground final disposal locations.
STUK also monitors and inspects the security arrangements of Posiva’s final disposal facility, the safety culture of the organization and Posiva’s readiness to start final disposal operations.
