Final repository for short-lived radioactive waste
The Forsmark SFR ( swedish Slutförvar conveyor Radioaktivt avfall ) is a repository for the inclusion of low-and intermediate-level radioactive waste from the Forsmark nuclear power plant. It is located 60 m deep in the rock of crystalline rocks beneath the Baltic Sea in the municipality of Östhammar, which also includes the Forsmark nuclear power plant stands. The majority of the waste from the establishment of the Swedish nuclear power plants, a smaller proportion of research and medicine.
Two 1000 m long tunnel leading from the above-ground buildings to four storage chambers and a cylindrical cavity with a concrete silo. The chambers are provided for the inclusion of low-level radioactive and some intermediate level waste in the silo, the largest share of intermediate-level radioactive waste to be stored. The current storage capacity of the repository is 63,000 m³. An extension by a further 30,000 m³ at a later date is planned. To accommodate decommissioning wastes an additional extension to approximately 200,000 m³ is required in the longer term. The repository was built from 1983 to 1988.
The operator, Svensk Kärnbränslehantering ( SKB ), is also preparing permit applications for the construction of a repository for spent nuclear fuel rods, ie for high-level radioactive wastes at this site before. You must first prove accordance with the Swedish Nuclear Energy Act their expertise. This proof must be renewed in a three year cycle. After that, they can submit the necessary proposals expected in March 2011. In a positive outcome in 2015 is when construction started in 2025 and expected to commissioning of the repository.
Criticism
In the scientific journal Catalysis Letter has presented its own studies by an international research group. These suggest that dissolves copper without the presence of oxygen in the water. "Copper reacts with chlorides and sulfides, but also with the water molecule itself. " " In our experiments, we can show that the corrosion 1,000 or even 10,000 times is faster than SKB indicates in its so-called security analysis. " The containers could therefore decay faster than expected, highly toxic radionuclides into groundwater and thus reach the surface. " The coat of the copper capsule would be a meter thick to withstand a period of 100,000 years ", " especially since the corrosion is additionally promoted in the first phase because of the high temperatures caused by the radiation ," warned Peter Szakálos, materials researchers at the Royal Institute of Technology ( KTH ) in Stockholm.
The Fukushima nuclear disaster in March 2011 in Japan has also brought into Sweden confidence in nuclear technology again falter. Numerous environmental organizations and the Swedish Green Party criticizes the planning application for the repository at Forsmark as premature. Alarmed by a researcher dispute the authority responsible for approving Swedish Supervisory Authority has appointed an international commission of experts.