Posiva plays a key role in nuclear life cycle
Responsibility is an excellent word to describe Posiva’s role in the nuclear life cycle. Nowhere else in the world is the start of the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel as close as it is in Finland. The first day of the production stage of final disposal is going to be a historic one not only for Posiva and Finland, but also to the world, with the missing piece in the nuclear life cycle finally in place. At present, that day is expected to arrive around the mid-2020s.
The author of this text, Ilkka Poikolainen, has been working as Posiva's CEO since November 2023.
Our fundamental task at Posiva is to implement the final disposal of the spent fuel of our owners TVO and Fortum deep in the bedrock in a safe and cost-efficient manner. We have the solution that further increases the sustainability of nuclear power as a form of production.
Strong brand
Posiva first started operation as a research organisation. The large-scale project started later aiming at actual final disposal operation is known as the EKA project. The strongest brand of Posiva is ONKALO® which is widely known in the nuclear sector across the world. Although ONKALO is often linked with underground operations, it really describes our system as a whole. The EKA project covers the construction of both the encapsulation plant above ground and the facilities and operations located underground, including the production equipment.
In international terms, the project serves as a model for the entire world. The EKA project has been an extremely great accomplishment for Posiva’s organisation. The application for the operating licence submitted in 2021 comprises about 17,000 pages. It is a concise representation of decades of work. One struggles to think of a more demanding project than the specification and implementation of the final disposal system.
The first step was to specify the requirements for the final disposal system, taking factors such as potential earthquakes and ice ages into consideration. This was followed by the determination of a safe final disposal system implemented using production equipment exclusively tailored for it. In other words, equipment not found as such in the selection of any contract manufacturers. Without us, such equipment would not exist.
From research to production
Approaching the final stage of the EKA project means that we have started preparations for the actual final disposal operation. The operation for which Posiva was founded. The operation which is our fundamental task. We are facing something new, but not unprepared. Our organisation has been actively involved at the testing and commissioning stage of the equipment, learning the required operational skills for both production and maintenance. Next, we will carry out a changeover of our organisational structure for the delivery of results at the production stage. The review procedure of the safety assessment linked to the operating licence application also goes through several stages (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland, Advisory Committee on Nuclear Safety, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and the Finnish Government) before the final operating licence is granted and production started.
The testing of the whole system is an extremely important step before the start of the final disposal operation. The Trial Run of Final Disposal is designed to verify the seamless operation of the equipment and the capabilities of the organisation for the production stage and it covers all the different areas of safety.
Posiva’s strategy defines our vision as “being the leading final disposal operator in the world”. Not only will we be the first in the world to start the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel, but the standard of our operation must also be of world class. We have identified the areas that most need improvement and also launched the actions for improvement. Thanks to our employees, we have received excellent ideas for the development of operation.
Tremendous effects
Despite the company’s major role in the nuclear life cycle, Posiva has in the 21st century also brought many socioeconomic benefits in our local region of Satakunta as well as all over the country. Studies show that in 2001–2004, Posiva’s direct and indirect employment impact has totalled some 16,000 person-years. The EKA project also coincided with this period. At the production stage, Posiva will have an employment impact of about 500–550 person-years in Finland every year, in addition to the company’s own employees. The production stage will run for the next one hundred years.
Globally, the need for final disposal industry will inevitably grow. Nuclear power has been in use for a long time already and new power plants are constructed. Posiva can come to the assistance of the nuclear industry everywhere in the world as the provider of expert services marketed through Posiva Solutions, a subsidiary fully owned by Posiva. This also gives our own employees a great opportunity to develop and maintain their knowledge and skills by harnessing the experience gained over more than 40 years to promote globally the responsible final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. We are in possession of rock-hard expertise that we can be proud of even on a global scale.
Ilkka Poikolainen
President and CEO
Posiva Oy
Posiva Oy is the leading final disposal operator in the world, preparing to start in the mid-2020s the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel in the ONKALO® facility excavated deep in the bedrock.
Posiva Solutions Oy markets knowhow and consultation based on knowledge gained in design, research and development activities related to the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel. Together with an extensive network of cooperation partners, PSOY provides tailored expert services for final disposal as well as turnkey solution and service models to nuclear waste management companies.
Photo: Petteri Kivimäki
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