Finland’s nuclear waste management organisation Posiva will carry out a trial run for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel at the Onkalo encapsulation plant and deep geological repository in 2023 using dummy fuel assemblies.

Posiva said it was planning for waste management organisations from around the world to participate in the trial run. “By participating they will be able to gain unique knowhow to benefit for their own deep geological repository programme,” the company said.

Posiva said dummy spent fuel bundles will be transported from interim storage to the encapsulation plant at the Onkalo facility, in Olkiluoto, southwest Finland. Once there, copper canisters will be loaded with the dummy nuclear fuel bundles and sealed.