Finland grants Posiva Oy permit to build spent-fuel facility for nuclear waste

Finland issued Posiva Oy a construction permit late last week to build a spent-fuel facility for nuclear waste at the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant.

Posiva said the facility would be operational in 2023 and that construction would commence near the end of 2016.

The government said the operational permit was granted on the condition that the company submit an analysis on the environmental impacts related to the operation of the facility, transport risks associated with moving spent nuclear fuel, and any changes implemented through the construction process.

"The construction license is an important step in the responsible use of nuclear energy in Finland,” Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn said. “The long-term safety of final disposal is a matter of great importance. It must be monitored throughout the service life of the disposal facility."

The report said the spent fuel will be stored in copper canisters, then transported to the disposal facility through a tunnel system. Rehn said the facility will be allowed to store a maximum of 6,500 tons of uranium.