The central interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel (Clab) in Oskarshamn has been extended with an additional storage pool. Now SKI has approved SKB’s application for an operating licence.
“The project has taken several years and we are very happy that we can now start using the new part of the interim storage facility,” says Jörgen Lundsten, SKB’s plant manager.
The start-up of the new section of the interim storage facility has been delayed due to the fact that the movement joints in the transport channel between the old and the new pools have been rebuilt. Other work is also being done on the facility; for example, a new process computer system was recently installed and taken into operation after extensive testing.
SKI’s decision includes the condition that SKB carry out the prepared inspection programme and that the results be documented and reported to the Inspectorate. The inspection programme includes monitoring of pool temperatures, pool movements and dose loads.
The operating licence means that the new addition can gradually be filled with spent nuclear fuel. At the same time, fuel can be transferred from the old to the new part to permit planned maintenance work to be carried out.
For more information: Jörgen Lundsten, plant manager at Clab, +46 491 76 32 56, +46 70 661 80 18, Jenny Rees, press officer, +46 491 76 78 87, +46 70 693 85 20
Facts:
Clab is a central interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel. The original facility was taken into operation in 1985. The facility is located close to the nuclear power plant north of Oskarshamn. Here the fuel will be cooled in water pools for about 30 years before being transported to a future final repository. The facility consists of two identical storage chambers with five storage pools in each section, excavated in the rock about 30 metres under ground. A transport channel connects the two storage sections. Approximately 4,500 tonnes of spent nuclear fuel is stored in the facility today.