Finland has made further progress towards becoming the first country to operate a deep geologic repository for spent nuclear fuel with publication of the regulator’s safety assessment, a key basis for the government’s decision on an operating licence for the facility.

The Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (Stuk) published its safety assessment of Posiva’s planned encapsulation and final disposal facility at Olkiluoto on 4 August.

Posiva, the company responsible for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Finland, said the assessment is a significant milestone in a project that has been systematically developed, researched and assessed for more than 40 years.