The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority has issued a permit for the operation of the world's first underground spent nuclear fuel storage facility. This is reported in the statement of the department.
It states that "the safety requirements for issuing an operating license have been met," and also notes that this is "the first time in the world that a geological repository of spent nuclear fuel has received an operating permit." It is specified that in order to start operating the storage facility, permission is also required from the government of the republic, which must be issued based on the findings of the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Department, TASS quotes excerpts.
The Onkalo storage facility was built by Posiva near the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant. The spent nuclear fuel is supposed to be buried in special containers in the rock at a depth of 400-450 m. The operating permit has been previously issued for a period up to 2070.