Onkalo deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel
Almacén geológico profundo de combustible nuclear de Onkalo
- Date
- 2004-2025 · confidence medium
- Place
- Eurajoki, Satakunta, Finland
- Credited to
- Posiva Oy
- Field
- Matter & energy
What it is
A tunnel system about 430 m deep in crystalline rock where copper canisters of spent nuclear fuel will be buried in bentonite. It is the first deep geological repository for spent fuel about to operate.
Construction began in 2004; trials with dummy fuel started in 2024 and the final operation date has been placed in the mid-2020s. The exact start-up date should be confirmed.
What it led to
- a repository model based on the KBS-3 method
- public acceptance of nuclear repositories
- a long-term solution for high-level waste