Decision-in-Principle

A prerequisite for constructing a repository for spent nuclear fuel is a decision-in-principle from the Government, confirming that the construction benefits society as a whole.

A decision-in-principle is applied for by submitting an application to the Government. For the discussion on the application for the decision-in-principle, the Ministry for Employment and the Economy requests statements from the council of the municipality in which the planned repository is to be located (the municipality has the right of veto), from the neighbouring municipalities, and from other institutions such as the Ministry of Environment. In addition, the Ministry acquires a preliminary safety assessment on the project from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.

One decision-in-principle does not apply to the disposal of all spent fuel; instead, the estimated amount of spent fuel from each plant is assessed separately. For example the decision-principle about the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel from the Olkiluoto 3 unit  was done separately.

Decisions-in-Principles Regarding Posiva

Decisions-in-principle were made in the early 2000s according to which the spent fuel produced by the Olkiluoto and Loviisa nuclear power plants already in operation and the new plant currently being built in Olkiluoto shall be disposed of in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki. Further, in 2010 the Government made and Parliament ratified a decision-in-principle according to which the spent fuel produced by the Olkiluoto 4 unit shall be finally disposed of in Olkiluoto.