RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

13.3.2 Decision processes
By gaining greater knowledge of political decision processes in complex issues, SKB hopes to
obtain guidance on how to carry out consultations, conduct studies, plan and decide on the siting
of a deep repository.
13.3.3 Psychosocial effects
The research on psychosocial effects will find out how public opinion and attitudes are created
and changed in the different phases of the deep repository project. Such knowledge will
hopefully increase understanding between the stakeholders and contribute positively to the
consultations.
13.3.4 Global changes
Research on global changes is intended to increase our knowledge of what factors and changes
in the world around us are of importance for the deep repository project and the community
which is eventually chosen to host it. This knowledge can be valuable in making plans, conducting
studies, carrying out consultations and making decisions leading up to an application for a
permit to site a deep repository.
13.4 Alternative methods
SKB’s research when it comes to alternatives to KBS-3 is concentrated on two methods:
Partitioning and Transmutation (P&T) and Very Deep Holes (VDH). The programmes are
described in greater detail in Chapter 23. The following sections provide only a brief sketch.
13.4.1 Partitioning and transmutation (P&T)
SKB continues to support research on P&T. If this method becomes reality one day, it would be
one way to reduce the content of long-lived radionuclides in the waste while extracting more
energy in the bargain. Sweden does not have the resources to pursue such development work on
its own; international cooperation would be required, or the commitment of a major power. If
P&T is implemented in the future and plants for it are built in some country, and if their services
are made available, we must ask what it would cost and what waste products we would get
back. But so far everything is in the basic research stage, and SKB’s policy is to monitor international
developments in the field. SKB supports research on Partitioning and Transmutation
at the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) in Stockholm, Uppsala University and Chalmers
University of Technology (CTH) in Gothenburg. The researchers there are engaged in a number
of EU projects, where they can participate in the international work in the field. The amount
of funding given by SKB to this research in Sweden is sufficient to ensure adequate breadth
and scope. To participate in the international development work, competent partners must be
provided as well as facilities in the country where research is conducted at an acceptable level.
A detailed account of SKB’s research programme in the field of Partitioning and Transmutation
is provided in section 23.1.
13.4.2 Very Deep Holes (VDH)
The idea of disposing of high-level waste in very deep holes has been around for more than
20 years, and SKB looked into the possibility of disposing of spent fuel in this manner in the
early 1990s. Further studies have been conducted since then without any obvious advantages
being found – rather the contrary. The conclusion in RD&D 2001 was that there was no
evidence to suggest that VDH would increase safety or reduce the cost of disposing of the
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