The European Commission has proposed that the general requirements for nuclear power plant safety and nuclear waste management be harmonised in the EU. This might lead to safety development coming to a standstill in the member states that are most advanced at present. The goal of STUK is to ensure that future arrangements improve nuclear safety in all EU countries. STUK also aims to rotate its experts in fixed-term duties in the Commission.
STUK is a sought-after partner in global cooperation that aims at harmonised safety requirements and regulatory processes for the construction and operation of new nuclear power plants. STUK actively participates in such cooperation and pursues expert exchange with foreign authority organisations.
The safety regulations that are within the scope of the Nuclear Energy Act will be updated early on in the strategy period. Statute-level safety norms will be prepared jointly with the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The structure of the detailed safety requirements (YVL Guides) published by STUK will be updated.
Regulation of the Olkiluoto 3 project carried out uncompromisingly
Nuclear power plant regulation is based on the strategic principle that core competence must reside in STUK’s own organisation. Inspections are carried out in such level of details that real added value can be provided for ensuring safety.
Meeting of the design objectives of the most important safety features is verified by STUK’s own staff, and additionally by contracting independent analyses to the best available experts. If needed, outside technical support will be employed in practical inspections.
Nuclear power expansion may come on the agenda after the Olkiluoto 3 project as well. Additional resources are acquired for safety regulation if the next project would involve a new plant type, new site or new license applicant.
The safety of operating plants is taken care of
The regulation of existing nuclear power plants emphasises the management of aging and the quality of plant operations. The automation and other systems at the Loviisa and Olkiluoto plants are undergoing modernization, and extra care is needed to ensure operational safety during this work. STUK emphasises the importance of meticulous planning and controlled implementation of changes in its regulatory inspections.
International cooperation for learning lessons from experiences in nuclear power plant operation must be improved so that risks identified anywhere can be controlled efficiently everywhere. STUK actively participates in the development of a network and interaction between different countries and ensures on its own part that essential information is transmitted between nuclear power plants in Finland and other countries.
To develop and maintain Finnish competence in nuclear safety, STUK provides guidance to the national research programme on nuclear safety.
Increased regulation of the project for final disposal of spent fuel
Final disposal of spent fuel in the Olkiluoto bedrock is a major task in nuclear waste management. Posiva Oy is a company established for this purpose, and it is preparing for the construction of the final disposal facilities and repository. STUK must invest in its processes and resources during the strategy period to ensure that the related regulatory tasks are correctly scheduled and of high quality.
In addition to preparing for operative regulatory tasks, STUK provides guidance to the national research programme on nuclear waste management. It also evaluates the results of Posiva’s research programme and follows international research on relevant topics. Knowledge of STUK’s staff is being enhanced with well focused research projects and cooperation in a network consisting of national and international experts.
STUK aims to create an internationally valued model for ensuring the safety of direct final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. It also follows foreign projects that aim for either direct final disposal or the development of an alternative method based on spent fuel reprocessing. STUK uses the information from these activities to assess the need for changes in the Finnish model.
Integration of national duties in nuclear material control
The procedures, preparations and information exchange involved in antiterrorism activities will be enhanced worldwide. As concerns nuclear material control in Finland, this will mean a stronger focus on security arrangements, border control, import and export control, security arrangements for other radioactive materials and research in the field.
Development is carried out in cooperation with other authorities. STUK’s main partners are the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Finnish Police, the Border Guard and Finnish Customs. For its own part, STUK aims at a model that can also serve as an example in international contexts.
International strategies for nuclear material control drafted by the IAEA and the EU are based on the enhancement and active use of national regulatory systems. STUK actively promotes this type of development. Operative nuclear material control is carried out jointly with the IAEA and the EU (Euratom Safeguards).
STUK also acts as the National Data Centre for the verification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty. It strives to stay as part of global network of CTBT laboratories, which requires continuous investment in capability of identifying radionuclides released in nuclear explosions.
