RD&D-Programme 2004 - SKB

25.2.1 Repository for short-lived LILW
Final disposal of short-lived LILW takes place today in SFR. When the phase-out of the NPPs
has reached the start of decommissioning, SKB must have a final repository for the shortlived
waste ready to receive the waste. This repository is planned to be an extension of SFR.
An extension for operational waste will be needed in the mid-2020s if many of the NPPs are
operated for more than 40 years.
Conclusions in RD&D 2001 and its review
The regulatory authorities consider it reasonable that a final repository for decommissioning
waste should stand ready to receive waste in 2015.
Newfound knowledge since RD&D 2001
The phase-out planning in effect today indicates that large-scale decommissioning will not
take place until after 2020 at the earliest. In conjunction with the extension of SFR to receive
decommissioning waste, SKB will re-license the facility so it can accommodate short-lived
waste, regardless of whether it comes from operation or decommissioning.
Programme
See section 25.5.
25.2.2 Safety evaluation
No formal safety assessment has been carried out for the final repository for short-lived
decommissioning waste since the preliminary safety assessment for SFR in 1982. The intention
is to conduct a new preliminary safety evaluation during the period. A safety assessment will be
submitted in connection with the publication of a preliminary safety report for the extended final
repository for short-lived decommissioning waste in 2013.
25.3 Long-lived low- and intermediate-level waste
The long-lived LILW consists mainly of two categories:
• Long-lived waste from research, medical care and industry.
• Core components and some reactor internals (highly neutron-irradiated) from maintenance
and decommissioning of the NPPs.
The first category is packaged and interim-stored in a special rock cavern in Studsvik in moulds
or drums for subsequent disposal. The material from the NPPs is interim-stored today in storage
canisters in Clab, or at the NPPs. Final packaging is done in conjunction with disposal.
Decommissioning of the NPPs will give rise to large quantities of long-lived scrap (reactor
internals and core components). Alternatives to interim storage in Clab will be investigated.
An inventory of the long-lived LILW that exists and is expected to arise was done in 1998 as
a basis for the preliminary safety assessment of a final repository for other long-lived waste,
which was carried out the following year /25-1/. The total volume of long-lived LILW from
Studsvik was estimated at 1,850 m 3 . Core components and reactor internals from the NPPs were
estimated to total 7,800 m 3 for BWRs and 1,800 m 3 for PWRs. The volumes are calculated from
the outside dimensions of the waste packages that already exist or will be produced.
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