Finnish Nuclear Waste Management acknowledged internationally

The Second Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties was held 15 to 24 May 2006 in Vienna, Austria. The meeting contemplated the safety of spent nuclear fuel management and radioactive waste management.

In the meeting, the EU Commission and 40 states reported on their arrangements of nuclear waste management. The participants evaluated how well each member state fulfils the Joint Convention and what improvements have been made since the previous 2003 meeting. The meeting aimed to observe good practices and possible need for improvement in the nuclear waste management of the participant states. 

Persistent work in Finland

The spent nuclear fuel generated by the Finnish nuclear power plants will be disposed permanently in the bedrock of Finland. The studies to ensure the safety of the final disposal are underway at the disposal site in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki.

”The fact that we have been able to take the long view and proceed according to the strategy issued by the Council of State already in 1983, and decide on the method of disposal as well as the final disposal site, attracts continuously a great following internationally. We could see that also in this meeting in numerous addresses and questions to Finland,” says Tero Varjoranta, director of the Nuclear Waste and Materials Regulation at STUK (STUK - Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority in Finland.) He acted also as a chairman for one of the Reviewer groups in Vienna.

In the evaluation of Finland, also a few recommendations came up that concerned about management of mainly other radioactive waste that those of nuclear power plants. In addition, it was seen important that Finland should pay attention to long-term maintenance and development of competence.

Advancement also elsewhere

According to the meeting, the biggest challenges in the future in the field of nuclear waste management are in final disposal, dismantling the shutdown nuclear installations and remedial of radioactively contaminated sites. During the three years since the previous review meeting matters have however improved. Many states have established funds to ensure the long-term implementation of nuclear waste projects.

The Convention that was discussed in the Vienna meeting came in the force in 2001. The Convention is meant to ensure that spent fuel and radioactive waste do not cause potential hazards to individuals, society, and the environment. The number of contracting parties has increased by eight since the previous meeting.  At the moment, all the most important states that use nuclear energy, apart from India and Pakistan, have ratified the Convention.

Further information:
Section Head Esko Ruokola, tel. +358 9 759 88 305
Information Officer Risto Isaksson, tel. +358 9 759 88 208