ONKALO news
23.07.2010 Study holes in ONKALO now complete
The ONKALO facility now comprises a total of five research niches, which are approximately 30-metre branches of the access tunnel. One of them, known as the POSE niche, contains three study holes with a diameter of 1.5 metres and a depth of approximately seven metres (7.26 m exactly). These holes emulate the disposal canister hole, even though their diameter is slightly smaller than that of the actual hole.
27.11.2009 A new research niche in ONKALO
A new research niche has been completed this fall in the underground characterisation facility ONKALO. The research niche, which is the third in total, has been excavated at the tunnel length of 3620 metres and is in effect a side tunnel which reaches circa 60 metres sideways from the main tunnel. The experiences and knowledge obtained from the excavation of the research niche (the EDZ research niche) can be utilised in the future when the excavation of the actual final disposal tunnels will commence.
03.12.2008 ONKALO personnel shaft to be extended down to 290 metres
The personnel shaft of ONKALO is being extended from 180 metres down to 290 metres. The exhaust air shaft of ONKALO was earlier in the autumn raise-bored to this depth, and according to plans, the inlet air shaft will also be drilled down to 290 metres next year.
19.06.2007 Ventilation shaft in ONKALO reaches down to a depth of 178 metres
The construction project of ONKALO, the underground facility for research related to final disposal of spent nuclear fuel, has reached another milestone, with the ventilation shaft completed at a depth of 178 metres. The shaft was excavated as a rise-boring operation, using a reamer bit with a 3.5 metre diameter. The Swedish Bergteamet Company was in charge of the rise-boring operation.