A welcome decision in Oskarshamn

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Photo-montage that demonstrates the integrated facility for interim storage and encapsulation
of spent nuclear fuel, Clink.

A welcome decision in Oskarshamn

The municipal council in Oskarshamn decided yesterday that it stands behind Svensk Kärnbränslehantering’s plan to build a nuclear fuel encapsulation plant in the municipality.

“This is a historical message and an important milestone for us. It is of course both welcome and enjoyable. It shows that the municipality of Oskarshamn has confidence in SKB’s work and our plans for the future. It also shows that the municipality is keen to push forward”, says SKB’s CEO Eva Halldén.

Encapsulation is the first step in SKB’s method for a safe final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. In the plant in Oskarshamn, the spent fuel will be placed in copper capsules before being shipped to the planned final repository in Forsmark.

The municipal council’s decision is part of the decision-making process under the Swedish Environmental Code, where the relevant municipality is consulted before the government decides on the admissibility of a nuclear facility.

FACT

Background

SKB’s application for permission for building a system to handle and permanently store the spent Swedish nuclear fuel has been tested by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, SSM, pursuant to the Nuclear Technology Act, and by the Land and Environment Court pursuant to the Swedish Environmental Code. In the autumn of 2017, the main hearing in the environmental assessment took place. On January 23 of this year, both the court and SSM submitted their respective opinions to the government, which will subsequently decide on licenses under the Nuclear Technology Act and permissibility under the Environmental Code.

The licensing matter is currently being dealt with by the Ministry of Environment and Energy for a future government decision. SKB has been given the opportunity to submit supplementary documentation by 7 January 2019.

Published: 18 June 2018