14 Jun (NucNet): Swedish nuclear fuel and waste management company SKB has given a “convincing” illustration and technical basis both for the feasibility of a planned deep geological repository and for its radiological long-term safety, a peer review has concluded.
The review of the post-closure radiological safety for the planned deep geological repository at Forsmark in the municipality of Östhammar was carried out by the OECD’s Paris-based Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and concluded that SKB‘s spent fuel disposal programme is “a mature programme”.
The report says SKB’s proposals are “at the same time innovative and implementing best practice”, and capable in principle of fulfilling the industrial and safety-related requirements for the next licensing steps.
The report says that in principle, SKB’s spent fuel disposal programme is “capable of fulfilling the industrial and safety requirements relevant for the next licensing steps”.
It also says SKB needs to show how it will progress “from theory to practice”. SKB said in a statement that “this is a work in progress that will become increasingly important the closer the construction and commissioning we get”.
SKB chief executive officer Claes Thegerström said “much remains of the licensing process”, but the NEA report was a significant step forward.
The NEA established the international review team at the request of the Swedish government.
The NEA said the peer review was carried out in support of SKB’s application for a general licence to construct and operate the repository. It said the review provides an international reference about the maturity of SKB’s spent fuel disposal programme. It will also provide valuable input for the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) in its further review of the licence application.
The report is online:
www.oecd-nea.org/rwm/docs/2012/rwm-peer2012-2.pdf
