Ministry of Employment and the Economy of the Repu : Joint use of know-how on nuclear waste management to be utilised

10.01.2013 10:30

The working group investigating nuclear power companies' cooperation over nuclear waste management submitted its final report to Jan Vapaavuori, Minister of Economic Affairs, on 10 January 2013.The key recommendation of the report is that it is most expedient and cost-efficient to aim for an optimised solution in final disposal, making use of the competence and experience in the field accumulated during Posiva Oy's project.

With respect to the issue in general, the number of final disposal facilities - one or two - does not play a key role. The working group recommends that the companies continue negotiating in order to arrive at a solution regarding the final disposal project for Fennovoima Oy. It concludes that the working group's mandate does not extend to business negotiations.

Fennovoima has to be present in connection of the construction license application for its final disposal project that it has available technological methods needed for realisation of the plans.

In March 2012, the Ministry of Employment and the Economy appointed a working group to steer nuclear power companies' joint investigation of the alternatives available for final disposal of nuclear fuel. On the basis of the interim report published in June, the working group continued comparing the expansion of Posiva's final disposal facility in Olkiluoto, and construction of a separate final disposal facility for Fennovoima.

The working group's final report assesses the environmental impacts of the various options, safety, costs and a review of these with respect to the overall interests of society. According to previous reports, the environmental impacts involved in final disposal are minor.When implemented in an optimal and timely manner, the difference in costs between different options would be insignificant compared to the life cycle costs of nuclear power production.

In the working group's opinion, both options can be safely implemented.In a statement issued by Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK on the report, and requested by the working group, it was stated that, on the basis of the available information, there are no significant differences in safety between the options.

As regards the overall interests of society, the social acceptability of final disposal is the key issue. A favourable Government resolution is required for both options, and before then, a recommendation on constructing the facility by the municipality intended as the site, and an assessment by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK on the safety of implementation. Furthermore, Parliament may either adopt or repeal the resolution. After that, a construction licence and operating licence are needed.

The working group also requested that the Energy Market Authority provide an assessment on its report. According to the assessment, it would be expedient in terms of cost-efficiency and the overall costs to society to aim for cooperation and an optimised solution for nuclear waste management.

The working group, chaired by Deputy Director General Herkko Plit of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy,included representatives of Teollisuuden Voima Oyj, Fortum Power and Heat Oy, Fennovoima Oy and Posiva Oy. Each party had two representatives.

In addition, from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, Jaana Avolahti, Counsellor, serves as secretary to the working group, and Jorma Aurela, Chief Engineer, as member.

For more information, please contact:

Deputy Director General Herkko Plit, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, tel. [phone] (chairman of the working group)

Jaana Avolahti, Counsellor, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, tel. [phone] (secretary to the working group)

The working group's final report is available on www.tem.fi/julkaisut (in finnish)