- Finland has issued the world's first operating license for a nuclear waste disposal facility.
- The facility will permanently dispose of used reactor fuel until 2070.
- Posiva is responsible for safe implementation and must ensure sufficient financial resources.
- Onkalo is the world's first nuclear waste disposal facility to receive an operating license.
Finland has issued the world's first operating license for a facility dedicated to the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel, allowing Posiva Oy to encapsulate and permanently dispose of used reactor fuel until 2070. The Finnish government announced that this license covers fuel from the Olkiluoto and Loviisa nuclear power plants and applies to a site located in the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant area, which includes a surface encapsulation plant and a storage facility named Onkalo, constructed at a depth of over 400 meters (approximately 1,300 feet).
Responsibility for Nuclear Safety
Climate and Environment Minister Sari Multala stated that ensuring the safe use of nuclear energy is "our responsibility to future generations," from construction to final disposal. She noted that after more than 40 years of systematic effort, Finland will launch the world's first final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel.
The Finnish government took action following a favorable statement issued by the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) on August 4, 2026. STUK determined that the facility meets the safety requirements of the Nuclear Energy Act and the Nuclear Energy Decree, adequately considering the safety of the public and workers as well as environmental protection. Posiva is responsible for the safe implementation of the project, and its owners Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) and Fortum must ensure that operations have sufficient financial resources.
Posiva may own, handle, store, and dispose of up to 6,500 tons of uranium (approximately 7,200 short tons) of spent fuel, equivalent to about 3,300 disposal canisters. With the full establishment of operations, the plan is to dispose of no more than 60 canisters per year. Disposal activities are expected to continue until the 2120s, after which the storage facility will be backfilled and sealed. Following closure, responsibility for the waste will transfer to the Finnish state under the Nuclear Energy Act. Posiva must document and store data critical to the disposal operations for future use by the state.
Design and Requirements of the Facility
The facility relies on a multi-barrier containment framework designed to isolate radioactive materials for thousands of years. According to Posiva, the facility is designed to safely isolate radioactive materials for at least 100,000 years. The license imposes conditions on the disposal facility for low-level and intermediate-level waste, requiring regular safety assessments and updated long-term safety arguments. Posiva can handle low-level and intermediate-level waste from the plant and its shareholders' nuclear facilities, provided the total volume does not exceed 3,000 cubic meters (approximately 106,000 cubic feet), with no more than 1,500 cubic meters (approximately 53,000 cubic feet) being permanently disposed of.
A limited amount of other radioactive waste is also permitted, including some waste from medical and research institutions.
Posiva must submit its regular safety assessments and updated safety arguments to STUK within 10 years of the license being granted and conduct further evaluations during operations. The license does not allow Posiva to commence operations immediately. STUK will oversee the commissioning and completion of operations and may require remedial measures to enhance safety. Before commissioning, STUK must conduct inspections under Article 20 of the Nuclear Energy Act to confirm that all safety operational conditions have been met. Prior to this, Posiva is not permitted to activate the facility.
The government states that Onkalo is the world's first nuclear waste disposal facility to receive an operating license. The announcement did not specify the timeline for inspections or the timing of the first disposal canister.
Global Significance of Finland's Nuclear Waste Disposal
Finland's nuclear waste final disposal facility marks a significant milestone in nuclear energy management, reflecting a commitment to environmental protection and public safety. This facility is not only a technological innovation but also serves as a model for other countries in nuclear safety and waste disposal. As global reliance on nuclear energy increases, Finland's approach may become a reference for future nuclear waste management, promoting safer disposal solutions and policy development.