Posiva, which is responsible for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel generated at the Loviisa and Olkiluoto nuclear power plants, has not completed the materials necessary for the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) to conduct a safety assessment concerning the plant’s operating licence. The work will continue next year.

At the end of 2021, Posiva submitted an application for an operating licence concerning an above-ground encapsulation plant for spent nuclear fuel and final disposal facilities to be built in bedrock to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment of Finland.  Originally, the Ministry asked STUK to deliver a statement by the end of 2023, if possible.

Since it was not possible to issue a statement within the original schedule, an additional period lasting until the end of this year was agreed a year ago. As STUK’s assessment work is still ongoing and it is still not possible to issue a statement, STUK proposed to the Ministry today that it would deliver a statement by 31 December 2025, if possible. The Ministry approved STUK’s proposal.

Overall, STUK has progressed well in processing the operating licence application. Due to the scope of the materials and the updates STUK required of Posiva, however, the processing has taken longer than anticipated. STUK has received new materials from Posiva this autumn

In addition, Posiva has made changes to the technical plans for final disposal during the processing. Consequently, Posiva had to remake the materials concerning the changes. Processing updated and remade materials takes time and affects the timeline of the assessment.

Project Manager Antti Tynkkynen states that the completion of the statement depends on when STUK has all the material required to conduct the safety assessment. “We are therefore unable to promise an exact timetable,” he says. “Once Posiva has demonstrated that the operation of the facilities and the safety of the final disposal meet the requirements, the safety assessment will be completed promptly. If Posiva material updates do not cause any further clarification, it is possible that the work will be completed by the end of the summer.”

STUK will draw up a safety assessment at the end of the processing of the licence application material, and this assessment will be appended to STUK’s safety statement. STUK’s favourable statement on safety is a prerequisite for the Government to grant an operating licence for Posiva’s encapsulation and final disposal facility.