Finland's nuclear regulator STUK has endorsed Posiva's application for an operating licence for its spent nuclear fuel final disposal facility at Olkiluoto, finding that all safety requirements are met (STUK, 04/08/2026). If approved by the government, the project would become the world's first geological repository for spent nuclear fuel to enter the operational phase.
Under Posiva's disposal concept, spent nuclear fuel will be sealed in iron and copper canisters and stored 400-450 metres underground in bedrock, protected by multiple safety barriers including bentonite clay. The company is seeking an operating licence until 2070, with STUK set to oversee the facility throughout its operational lifetime.