The Finnish Government has granted Fortum a licence to operate the final disposal facility for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste at the Loviisa NPP site, until the end of 2090. This came after the Finnish Radiation & Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK – Säteilyturvakeskus) had made its decision on the periodic safety assessment of the facility. STUK said both the operating safety and the long-term safety of the facility are at a good level. STUK also said the licensee has the necessary procedures and resources in place to continue safe operation.
The final disposal facility located 110 metres underground in the power plant area has been in operation since 1998. There are plans for its expansion so that eventually it will be able to take the radioactive waste generated from the decommissioning of Loviisa NPP. The expansion is expected to be completed in the late 2040s, prior to the decommissioning of the plant.
The plan is to use the final disposal facility to dispose of all the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste generated during the Loviisa decommissioning process as well as small amounts of radioactive waste generated elsewhere in Finland. This will include the decommissioning waste from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland’s research reactor and material research laboratory. The operating licence granted by the Government covers the final disposal of all these wastes. Used fuel from the Loviisa NPP will be deposited in Posiva’s final disposal facility for used nuclear fuel in Olkiluoto. Posiva is jointly owned by Finnish nuclear utilities Fortum and Teollisuuden Voima Oyj.
Image courtesy of Fortum
