Legislation of nuclear energy

According to the Nuclear Energy Act (990/1987), the basic requirements applying to the use of nuclear energy are that its operation will be in line with the overall good of society and safe and that it will not cause injury to people or damage to the environment or property.

The use of nuclear energy is subject to a licence that places several obligations on the licensee, who must ensure safe use of nuclear energy, manage the nuclear waste generated and cover all the costs of nuclear waste management. Preparations for the costs of nuclear waste management are made by collecting in the price of electricity generated by a nuclear power plant a nuclear waste reservation fee that is placed in the Finnish State Nuclear Waste Management Fund.

The Nuclear Energy Decree (161/1988) and the five Government Decisions concerning the use of nuclear power were issued on the basis of the Nuclear Energy Act. The Government Decisions apply to the safety, physical protection, , emergency preparedness and the final disposal of power plant waste and spent nuclear fuel.

On the basis of the authorizations written into nuclear energy legislation, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) publishes YVL guides which show the individual safety requirements applying to the use of nuclear energy and the supervision methods used by STUK.

Provision is made for radiation safety in the Radiation Act (592/1991) and Radiation Decree (1512/1991).

According to the Nuclear Liability Act (484/1972), the permit holder of a nuclear power plant must have nuclear liability insurance that will compensate for injuries caused to outsiders by a possible nuclear accident, to the extent decreed by law.