RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

25 Low- and intermediate-level waste
Most of the waste from operation and decommissioning of the nuclear power plants is
short-lived and low- and intermediate-level. During operation and decommissioning of the
NPPs also long-lived low- and intermediate-level waste arises.
25.1 Components of the LILW system
The system for managing low- and intermediate-level waste (LILW) handles all radioactive
materials from the NPPs, with the exception of the spent fuel. Waste that is so low-level that it
can be disposed of by on-site shallow land burial at the NPPs is not included either.
The LILW system can also manage the radioactive waste obtained from Studsvik, or waste from
other use of radioactive materials in e.g. research and education and at hospitals and in industry.
However, this lies beyond SKB’s undertaking for its owners and therefore requires that special
agreements be signed. The waste can be treated and packaged at the NPPs and at Studsvik.
Studsvik takes care of the institutional waste.
SKB’s facilities for LILW today include the final repository for short-lived LILW from
operation and maintenance of the NPPs (SFR), the interim storage facility for intermediate-level
long-lived waste, core components, in Clab and the transportation system for LILW (Sigyn with
transport casks, ATB).
The LILW system will later be augmented with a final repository for radioactive waste from
decommissioning of the Swedish NPPs and phase-out of other nuclear activities.
The short-lived waste from decommissioning of NPPs is planned to be disposed of in an
extension of SFR-1. In conjunction with the extension, a rearrangement is planned so that
the entire SFR facility can be utilized for optimal disposal of waste from both operation and
decommissioning.
Long-lived LILW is interim-stored today at Clab, at the nuclear power plants and at Studsvik.
The long-lived waste has a relatively small volume so far, but this will increase with the
decommissioning of the NPPs. An extended operating time will also presumably result in
increased volumes from maintenance and repairs. SKB is therefore planning for a dry interim
storage of core components to relieve the load on Clab.
The final repository for other long-lived waste is planned to be ready to receive waste in around
2045, when most of the waste will be available for deposition, see Figure 25-1.
SKB’s activities in the LILW field are financed in part with money from the Nuclear Waste
Fund (the repository for decommissioning waste and the repository for other long-lived waste)
and in part directly by the owners (existing repository for short-lived operational waste). The
parts of SKB’s activities in this field that relate to Studsvik and other waste suppliers are
financed separately.
RD&D-Programme 2004 327