Costs covered by the owners

Swedish nuclear power companies pay a fee for every kilowatt-hour of electricity they produce. The money goes into the government’s Nuclear Waste Fund, which finances the safe management of spent nuclear fuel and the dismantling of Sweden’s nuclear power plants. Most of SKB’s work is funded through this system.

Under Swedish law, nuclear power companies are responsible for covering all costs related to the management and final disposal of nuclear waste. They are also required to finance the dismantling of nuclear power plants and other nuclear facilities.

Since the mid-1970s the nuclear power companies have been allocating funds to cover these costs. These funds are administered by the Nuclear Waste Fund. In addition to the fees paid by the owners, they also provide financial guaranties for fees not yet paid into the fund and for unforeseen events.

Regular cost assessments

SKB regularly calculates the future costs of managing nuclear waste. Every three years, a cost report—known as a Plan Report—is submitted to the Swedish National Debt Office. The authority reviews the report and then proposes fees and financial guarantees to the government, which makes the final decision.

In 2025, the average fee for nuclear power plants is 0.08 SEK per kilowatt-hour of electricity delivered. The total financial guarantees amount to SEK 81 billion. Nuclear operators are also required to pay an annual fee for reactors that have been permanently shut down.

At the end of 2024, the Nuclear Waste Fund held approximately SEK 83 billion. The amount that needs to be paid into the fund depends on both the development of future costs and the fund’s future returns. The fund’s capital investments are governed by regulations at various levels.

Costs from the Latest Report

The cost basis for Sweden’s nuclear waste program is submitted to the Swedish National Debt Office every three years. According to the report submitted on 30 September 2022, the total cost from start to finish is estimated at approximately SEK 171 billion.

Of this amount, around SEK 64 billion has already been used to build and operate existing facilities, as well as for research, development, and the establishment of Sweden’s nuclear waste management system. The remaining SEK 107 billion covers future costs from 2024 onward. The remaining base cost under the Financing Act—including real price and cost developments, as well as allowances for unforeseen events and risks—is estimated at SEK 124.1 billion (costs from 2024 onward, price level January 2022).