Radioactive waste may have been sorted incorrectly and now needs to be picked up from the final repository – and possibly relocated. There is a risk that it is more dangerous than previously thought.
75 containers with nuclear waste may have been incorrectly deposited in Forsmark's final repository for short-lived nuclear waste. The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority is now demanding that seven companies responsible for the waste inspect the contents, as P4 Uppland was the first to report.
The waste, which dates back to the period 1980 to 2001, was considered at the time to meet the requirements for final storage. However, as early as 2012, investigations were conducted on waste that had not been placed in final storage, and the documentation did not match the contents.
The waste was found to contain long-lived radionuclides, and the final repository was not designed for that. There are several uncertainties surrounding the fact that it may contain liquids of other chemical and biological materials that are not permitted in the final repository, says Jenny Zettersten, inspector at the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority, to TT.
Consequences in 100 years
It's about 2,844 barrels with 100 liters of waste per barrel. As it stands today, it's not dangerous, but there are risks for the future, says Jenny Zettersten.
The content of radium can give large radiation doses further ahead in 100 to 1,000 years if someone were to drill a well there, she says.
For over a decade, it has been an open case with several investigations. It has now resulted in the companies Barsebäck Kraft, Ringhals, Forsmarks kraftgrupp, OKG, Svafo, Studsvik Nuclear, and Cyclife Sweden having to pick up the waste.
May need to be relocated
The companies must re-examine the waste to determine whether it can be re-deposited in the final repository or if it needs to be moved to an intermediate storage facility. Several investigations have also been conducted on the risks associated with relocation.
The containers are in poor condition, so it may be necessary to repackage the waste in new containers to transport them safely, says Zettersten.
