Radioactive waste only constitutes a tiny fraction of all hazardous waste produced in the world. It origins from a number of different sources i.e nuclear power reactors, other industry, medical applications, research facilities and for some countries also from the military sector. Most countries have laws that calls for national management and disposal of the radioactive waste. To reach good solutions for the safe handling and management of this type of waste, extensive international cooperation is performed.
Collaboration among countries
As mentioned above, many countries have their own research and development programmes to resolve issues involving the handling and storage of radioactive waste. Several, including Sweden, are actively cooperating to discuss and evaluate the various waste programmes, to benefit from experiences and results and to join resources to study specific scientific issues., as well as to.
Several international organisations (i.e. IAEA, OECD/NEA, EC) are working intensively on radioactive waste issues. There are also international agreements in place, like IAEA´s “Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management”, with which Sweden and other countries have pledged compliance.
SKB's international role
SKB is running a successful and highly advanced programme that is subject to great interest from nuclear-waste organisations worldwide. This interest is evident in the large numbers of international visitors to our facilities. We are also formally cooperating with a number of sister organisations around the world. Mutual benefit is the basis of such collaboration, which involves primarily the exchange of technologies and experience, but also actual research and development projects. Several of these projects are performed in the Äspö Hard Rock laboratory.
SKB International Consultants
SKB International Consultants AB (SKB IC), a subsidiary of SKB, is active in international work related to technology transfer. SKB IC works on a commercial basis and offers its international customers the knowledge and experience that SKB has built up within its programme. The company is commissioned to help other countries increase safety and reduce the environmental risks associated with the handling and storage of radioactive operational waste and spent nuclear fuel. SKB's IC services extend to the entire field of nuclear waste: from low and intermediate-level waste to spent nuclear fuel.