Finland has granted an operating licence to the Onkalo facility for the encapsulation and permanent disposal of spent nuclear fuel, making it the first repository of its kind in the world to receive such a licence. The Finnish government announced the decision on 22 October.

The facility is located in Olkiluoto, on Finland’s west coast, and is operated by nuclear waste management company Posiva. The licence covers an above-ground encapsulation plant and an underground repository built more than 400 metres below ground. It allows the facility to handle spent fuel from Finland’s Olkiluoto and Loviisa nuclear power plants, with capacity for up to 6,500 tonnes of uranium.

The licence is a major regulatory step, but it does not permit immediate disposal operations. Posiva must complete commissioning tests and inspections, which Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) must verify and approve before final disposal can begin. The company has not set a detailed start date.

Onkalo is designed to isolate radioactive fuel from people and the environment over long periods. Under the planned process, spent fuel will be sealed in durable canisters and placed deep in bedrock, with engineered barriers providing additional containment. The repository is intended to provide a permanent alternative to interim storage.

Posiva said the operating licence allows it to move towards a production phase expected to continue for more than a century. The licence covers operation until the end of 2070.

Finland’s approval marks a milestone in long-term nuclear waste management. The repository must still complete the required safety checks before it can accept spent fuel for final disposal.