slutförvaringen

Slutförvaringen, commonly translated as the final disposal facility, is the planned deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste in Sweden. It is intended to permanently isolate spent nuclear fuel and other long-lived waste from the biosphere for extremely long timescales. The project is a central element of SKB's (Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB) program to manage nuclear waste responsibly and safely.

Design and technology: The repository is based on the KBS-3 concept. Spent fuel is to be sealed in copper canisters with a cast-iron insert, deposited in tunnels within stable crystalline bedrock at depths of several hundred meters, and surrounded by a buffer of bentonite clay to limit groundwater movement and retard radionuclide release. The system comprises an encapsulation facility to prepare the canisters and the final repository itself in a multi-barrier configuration designed to remain passively safe for many millennia.

Location and status: Sweden studied two candidate areas for the facility—Forsmark in Uppland and Laxemar near Oskarshamn. SKB's plans envisage choosing a site and obtaining necessary permits to construct and operate the repository. As of the mid-2020s, construction had not begun, and the project remained in permit processes and ongoing assessment, with continued public and local stakeholder dialogue.

Safety and oversight: The project is subject to national safety standards and regulatory oversight by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and government authorization. Environmental impact assessments, long-term safety analyses, and transparency measures are integral parts of the process, aimed at ensuring protection of people and the environment over the repository's projected timescales.