The Forsmark facility was commissioned in 1988 and was the first of its kind in the world at that time. This is where we receive waste such as protective clothing, parts that have been replaced in the nuclear power plants, and filters that are used to clean the reactor water.
This waste is packaged in metal or concrete containers and stored at a depth of 50 metres in rock vaults that are kept under surveillance. After approximately 500 years most of the radioactivity from this waste is gone. We must show, however, that safety requirements can be fulfilled for over 10,000 years due to the remaining radioactivity. This is done with the help of our safety analyses.
Waste from other sources
SKB also handles low and intermediate-level waste from health care, industry and research facilities. This waste is first treated and packaged in Studsvik Research Center, and amounts to about 10 to 20 cubic metres each year.
When nuclear power plants are dismantled
In the future it will also be necessary to handle the waste, such as the scrap metal and construction material, that is generated when nuclear power plants are decommissioned. This waste must be isolated from human beings and the environment in the same way as operational waste. An extension of SFR is in the planning stages and expected to be operational by 2020. The final repository including the extension will have a waste storage capacity of 200,000 cubic metres.