RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

2.1 Nuclear fuel programme
In Sweden the intention is to implement geological disposal of the spent nuclear fuel. Behind
this decision lies the principle that currently living generations should dispose of the waste. The
reason for this is that it is today’s generations who have benefited from the nuclear power, and
that the future evolution of society is shrouded in uncertainty.
SKB’s continued efforts to manage and dispose of the spent nuclear fuel are based on the
following principles:
• A stepwise programme for the implementation of deep geological disposal of spent fuel.
• A continued active programme for research and development of technology and safety for
the deep disposal method, but also for alternative methods.
It will take another 50 years at least to carry out all the steps needed to manage and dispose of
all high-level waste in a long-term safe manner. It is therefore advisable to proceed in steps and
keep the door open for technological development, changes and possible retrieval of deposited
waste. This will ensure freedom of choice for the future, at the same time as the deep disposal
method is demonstrated on a full scale and under actual conditions. Decisions on siting,
construction and operation of an encapsulation plant and a deep repository will also be taken
in steps and based on progressively more detailed investigation results.
The planning for the nuclear fuel system is based on a reference scenario with an operating
time of 40 for the reactors that are currently in operation. This will give rise to around
4,500 canisters, equivalent to 9,300 tonnes of uranium. According to this plan, deposition in
the deep repository will be concluded in around 2050. The different repository parts can then
be sealed and the buildings decommissioned prior to 2060. If the operating time for the power
plants is extended to 60 years, the number of canisters will increase to 1,500 and the operating
time for the system to 20 years. The programme enables both smaller and larger fuel quantities
(compared with the reference scenario) to be handled. The variables that are affected are mainly
the operating time of the system and the space requirement for the deep repository.
Siting of the remaining facilities is also based on a stepwise process with well-underpinned and
firmly anchored decisions. The process is fully transparent and allows concerned municipalities
to decide freely whether they wish to participate or not. This model has proved to lead forward.
The basic ambition in SKB’s planning for the remainder of the nuclear fuel programme is to
complete the work in broad collaboration with the parties concerned. It is therefore necessary
to strive for a balance between the justified requirements on time and space for the decision
processes and the continuity and intensity that are required if the result is to be good. This
attitude continues to permeate the way all the stakeholders work, including those who play a
leading role in the licensing processes.
2.1.1 Current situation
The current situation in the nuclear fuel programme can be summarized in the following points:
• The development of the KBS-3 method is in a phase featuring pilot- and full-scale tests of
parts of the system. The activities are largely being pursued at the Canister Laboratory and
the Äspö HRL.
• Design of an encapsulation plant is under way, at the same time as development of the
encapsulation technology is proceeding. The encapsulation plant should preferably be sited
adjacent to Clab. A siting at a possible deep repository in Forsmark will be studied as an
alternative for comparison.
• There are two candidate sites at which a deep repository can be sited: Forsmark in the
municipality of Östhammar and Simpevarp/Laxemar in the municipality of Oskarshamn.
30 RD&D-Programme 2004