Experience from operation of the Swedish Central Intermediate Storage Facility

Svensk Kaernbraenslehantering AB, SKB (Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company), which is owned by the four nuclear power utilities in Sweden, has been given the assignment to develop, plan, build and operate facilities and systems for the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste from Swedish nuclear power stations. Each year about 250 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel are generated in 12 Swedish reactors and must be disposed of. The fuel is first stored for at least one year at the reactors, whereupon it is transported for central intermediate storage in the CLAB facility (CENTRAL STORAGE FACILITY FOR SPENT FUEL). The Swedish system for the management and disposal of spent nuclear fuel is based on intermediate storage in water pools for 30-40 years, prior to final disposal. CLAB was taken into active operation July 11, 1985, when the first spent fuel arrived. During the first so-called Nuclear Trial Operation Period, operating routines and procedures as well as all systems have been tested and verified under active conditions. The results have been very satisfactory and receiving capacity was as originally planned. Between July 1985 and May 1, 1986, 68 fuel transport casks with an equivalent of 201 metric tonnes of uranium and 13 casks with core components have been received. (author)