Finland approves nuclear waste storage site

Finland has given the green light for Onkalo, the world's first permanent nuclear waste storage facility, after 22 years of construction. The project, managed by Posiva, is located in Eurajoki, southwest Finland, and is designed to safely store used nuclear fuel for tens of thousands of years.

Onkalo's geological foundation

The Onkalo site is built into a 1.9 billion-year-old rock formation, chosen for its stability and isolation. This underground facility will hold nuclear waste in cavities carved into the rock, ensuring it remains contained and secure for an extremely long time.

Posiva's historic milestone

Posiva's chief executive, Ilkka Poikolainen, called the licensing of Onkalo a historic moment for the company and Finland. However, no exact date has been set for the start of operations, as Posiva must complete testing and inspections approved by Finland's radiation safety authority, STUK.

Storage design and safety measures

Onkalo is designed to hold 6,500 tons of used nuclear fuel from Finland's five reactors. The fuel will be placed in corrosion-resistant copper canisters inside tunnels, sealed with bentonite clay and reinforced concrete. The waste will remain highly radioactive for tens of thousands of years, but its radioactivity will eventually decrease to levels similar to natural uranium ore.

Global context of nuclear waste management

Since the 1950s, countries using nuclear energy have struggled to find safe, permanent solutions for radioactive waste, which is currently stored in temporary facilities. While other nations like Sweden and France are building their own repositories, Finland is expected to be the first to open a fully operational underground nuclear waste storage site. The project has cost approximately 1.16 billion dollars.