Historic decision: Finnish Government grants operating licence to Posiva
The Finnish Governmen gtranted today, 22 October 2026, to Posiva the operating licence for the encapsulation and final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel located in Olkiluoto. This is the first operating licence anywhere in the world granted for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel.
The decision marks the beginning of a new stage in a process that has continued for more than 40 years. Posiva will now transition towards production operation which will go on for over a hundred years. The safety assessment issued by the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) of Finland in August constituted the central rationale for the Government’s decision.
– This is a great and historic day for both Posiva and Finland. In addition to comprehensive expertise, the stability of the society and the predictability of the operational environment were prerequisites for the operating licence, says Posiva’s President and CEO Ilkka Poikolainen.
As a company owned by TVO and Fortum, Posiva is tasked with the safe management of the spent nuclear fuel generated by its owner companies, in a way that relieves the future generations from having to solve the issue of final disposal.
– This solution has not been built because it was easy. It was built despite not being easy. Because it is the responsible thing to do. And because it is the right thing, Poikolainen says.
Safety sets the pace
The operating licence does not imply an immediate start to production operation. Before final disposal begins, Posiva will finalise the commissioning stage, carrying out the necessary tests and inspections which STUK also needs to verify and approve. No detailed schedule is given at this point for the start-up.
– Like we have said from the very start: only safe final disposal is possible. That is why we will take the time to complete also the final stages with care, Poikolainen sums up.
The long-term safety of final disposal relies on the multi-barrier principle. The spent nuclear fuel is isolated from people and the living environment deep in the bedrock by means of multiple mutually complementing engineered and natural barriers.
Completing the lifecycle of nuclear energy
The operating licence granted to Posiva solves the most significant open issue in the production of responsible nuclear electricity.
Posiva has already attracted plenty of international attention and the pioneering work of the company sets an example to countries developing their own final disposal solution. The unique expertise is already exported to 19 different countries by Posiva Solutions Oy.
Poikolainen stresses that although the operating licence was granted to Posiva, the accomplishment is the result of extensive cooperation.
– A total solution like this is not built by just one organisation, and not in just a few years’ time. It has its background in the forward-looking decisions of the society, independent regulatory oversight, strong commitment from our owners, and the efforts of a wide-reaching group of experts. The thanks must go to everybody involved in this work, Poikolainen concludes.