The Finnish Government has granted Fortum a licence to operate the final disposal facility for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, located in the Loviisa power plant area, until the end of 2090.
The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) had previously made its decision on the periodic safety assessment of the final disposal facility for Loviisa power plant’s low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. It stated in its decision that both the operating safety and the long-term safety of Loviisa’s final disposal facility are at a good level. STUK also stated that the licensee has the necessary procedures and resources in place to continue safe operation.
The final disposal facility located 110 metres underground in the power plant area has been in operation since 1998. It has been planned to be expanded so that eventually the radioactive waste generated from the decommissioning of Loviisa power plant can be placed there. The expansion is planned to be completed in the late 2040s, prior to the decommissioning of the power plant.
The plan is to use the final disposal facility to dispose of all the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste generated during the Loviisa power plant’s operation and decommissioning process as well as small amounts of radioactive waste generated elsewhere in Finland, such as the decommissioning waste from VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland’s research reactor and material research laboratory. The operating licence granted today by Finnish Government covers the final disposal of all these wastes into Loviisa’s final disposal facility.
The spent fuel generated at the Loviisa power plant will be deposited in Posiva’s final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel; Posiva is jointly owned by Fortum and TVO.
