The Swedish Nuclear Power Inspectorate (SKI) has given Sweden’s nuclear waste management company (SKB) an operating licence for a new pond at Clab – the central interim spent fuel store.
Clab, which is near Oskarshamn in southeast Sweden, has recently been extended with an extra storage pond and the license allows SKB to begin operations in that pond.
The start-up of the new section of the interim store was delayed due a rebuild of expansion joints in the tunnel between the old and new ponds.
SKI’s decision includes a condition that SKB carries out a set inspection programme and the results are documented and reported to SKI. The inspection programme includes monitoring of pond temperatures, pond movements and dose loads.
As well as providing additional capacity, the new pond space means that fuel can be transferred out of the old pond to allow maintenance.
SKB plant manager Jörgen Lundsten said: “The project has taken several years and we are very happy that we can now start using the new part of the interim storage facility.”
