Saanio & Riekkola promotes technology cooperation in Europe on the final disposal of nuclear waste

Technology Platform for Implementing Geological Disposal (IGD-TP) supported by the European Commission, has been established to add momentum to final disposal programmes of high-level, long-lived nuclear waste. IGD-TP is backed by organisations in charge of the implementation of nuclear waste maintenance in various European countries, and Saanio & Riekkola Oy has participated to the Technology Platform since 2011. A strategic research agenda (SRA) for IGD-TP has been published. IGD-TP aims, by making mutual cooperation more intensive, to help facilitate the first final disposal facilities required for the final disposal of long-lived nuclear waste being introduced by 2025.

 

According to the current situation, it seems to be obvious that only three or four countries in Europe will be able to commence final disposal by 2025 as per the vision. Both Finland and Sweden are among these countries. However, IGD-TP also intends to support and encourage other countries to follow the same policy so that the responsibility for nuclear waste maintenance will not be passed on to later generations.

At the moment Saanio & Riekkola Oy and Posiva Oy are co-ordinating preparations for a IGD-TP pilot project proposal for full scale demonstration of repository plugging and sealing. Picture Saanio & Riekkola Oy.