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Finland grants operating licence for world's first permanent deep geological nuclear waste repository
The Finnish government has issued an operating licence for the Onkalo facility in Eurajoki, the world's first permanent deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel. The facility will store radioactive waste more than 400 metres underground in approximately 1.9 billion year old crystalline rock. Used fuel rods from the Olkiluoto and Loviisa nuclear plants will be placed in thick copper canisters, lowered into underground vaults, and surrounded by bentonite clay, with the system designed to isolate nuclear waste for over 100,000 years.
Why it matters
This milestone establishes a proven model for permanent nuclear waste disposal that could influence energy infrastructure planning globally, including for countries expanding nuclear capacity to support electrification and EV charging networks. The long term waste solution may reduce regulatory barriers for new nuclear projects that could provide baseload power for large scale charging infrastructure.