RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

Preface
SKB, Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB (the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co),
which is owned by the companies that operate the Swedish nuclear power plants, has been
assigned the task of managing and disposing of the spent nuclear fuel from the reactors. The
Nuclear Activities Act requires a programme of comprehensive research and development
and other measures that are needed to manage and dispose of nuclear waste in a safe manner
and to decommission and dismantle the nuclear power plants. SKB is now presenting RD&D-
Programme 2004 in fulfilment of this requirement. The programme describes SKB’s plans for
the period 2005–2010. The period of immediate concern is 2005–2007. The level of detail for
the three subsequent years is naturally lower.
The programme provides a basis for designing systems for safe management and disposal of the
radioactive waste from the nuclear power plants. SKB’s plan is to implement deep disposal of
the spent fuel in accordance with the KBS-3 method. In the RD&D-Programme we describe our
activities and planning for this line of action and the work that is being conducted on alternative
methods. Review of the programme can contribute valuable outside viewpoints. The regulatory
authorities and the Government can clarify how they look upon different parts of the programme
and stipulate guidelines for the future. Municipalities and other stakeholders can, after studying
the programme, offer their viewpoints to SKB, the regulatory authorities or the Government.
The goal for the period up to the end of 2008 is to be able to submit permit applications for
the encapsulation plant and the deep repository. This RD&D-Programme therefore differs
from the preceding ones in that it concentrates on questions relating to technology development
for these facilities. The programmes for safety assessment and research on the long-term
processes that take place in the deep repository are then linked together with the programmes
for technology development. Another new feature of this RD&D-Programme is that we also
present our programme for social science research, which was requested by several reviewing
bodies in connection with the review of RD&D-Programme 2001. Finally, the programmes
for alternative methods, decommissioning and other long-lived waste are also described in this
RD&D-Programme.
In the review statement regarding RD&D-Programme 2001 which SKI submitted to the
Government in March 2002, the Inspectorate called for a report that would explain more clearly
SKB’s plans for the remainder of the nuclear fuel programme. As a reason for this request, SKI
said that the competent authorities will need to know which regulatory reviews are anticipated
over the next ten years and the extent to which these reviews depend on each other. Such a
report is appended to this RD&D-Programme.
It is our hope that the above structure and perspective provide a clear picture of how far the
technology development work has come and what factors are most important for safety in
the deep repository.
Stockholm in September 2004
Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co
Claes Thegerström
President
Tommy Hedman
Head of Technology