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Finland's Nuclear Tomb: 100,000 Years of Waste Buried
2 Oct
Summary
- Finland's Onkalo facility will be the world's first nuclear waste repository.
- The facility will contain 6,500 tonnes of hazardous nuclear waste.
- Waste at Onkalo will be sealed 400 metres underground for over 100,000 years.
Finland is poised to open the world's first geological disposal facility (GDF) for nuclear waste, named Onkalo. After decades of planning, the final digging of this facility, located 400 metres beneath the earth, began last month. It is designed to safely house 6,500 tonnes of hazardous nuclear waste, ensuring its containment for over 100,000 years.
Scientists have long sought solutions for nuclear waste. Onkalo, set to be ready by year's end, represents the gold standard in disposal. This development occurs as global enthusiasm for nuclear power grows, driven by the need for carbon-free electricity and energy security concerns.
Currently, about 70% of the world's nuclear waste is stored in vulnerable cooling pools or dry storage. While Onkalo's capacity is 6,500 tonnes, a typical reactor produces only 25-30 tonnes annually. The facility represents a significant investment, costing $6bn, but concentrates risk efficiently.
