The New York Times published an article on March 14, 2025, about the safer, greener, and cheaper method for permanently disposing of nuclear waste. The article highlights the success of Finland’s Onkalo, an underground nuclear waste store that has been in operation since 1998. The plant, which also serves as a training school for national waste storage programs worldwide, has not only increased the safety and security of nuclear waste but also reduced costs.
Reporter Somini Sengupta explains how Finland’s solution to waste storage has become more efficient and less expensive than other approaches. The subterranean storage site handles all types of nuclear waste, from “spent fuel to ashes from reactor mishaps,” an estimated volume equivalent to ten Olympic swimming pools annually. Unlike the traditional solution of burying waste in shallow deposits, which is the method used in most nuclear waste storage facilities in the U.S., Finland’s plant is 11 levels deep beneath their bedrock. The distance keeps aggressive radioactivity and good old-fashioned water out of harm’s way.
The undisturbed bedrock also reduces the cost of building the storage facility. The finite and predictable economic cost makes the Onkalo plant safer and financially more sustainable than its American counterparts. This prevents problems concerning leaks, political wrangling, legal hassles, and ensuing public protests that have plagued the storage system since the 1980s.
According to Sengupta, there is “still no disposal site for spent nuclear fuel in the United States, 40 years after the policy that aimed for one was put in place.” There are many factors that prevent the establishment of such a location. One of the major issues is the lack of a long-term funding source that can cover the massive costs of building safety standards. Although President Biden’s budget has proposed adding $10 billion in funding for Plant Vogtle, which is intended to boost opportunities for nuclear power in the U.S., it is still too little, too late for addressing the issue.
Finland’s system has proved to be much safer, more efficient, and financially stable. With consultation and negotiation between all of its stakeholders, they have navigated the challenges successfully. Finland even opened its solution for increased collaboration and consultation with other global organizations, now an international testing ground for nuclear waste storage facilities. They aim to demonstrate to the international community their success with their Onkalo plant, which could pave the way for safer and more economically sustainable nuclear waste storage worldwide.
In summary, the article describes Finland’s successful storage system for nuclear waste, which has not only improved safety and security measures but has also reduced costs. Unlike the traditional shallow deposits being used in the US, Finland’s subterranean storage site is a safer and more efficient option. The article highlights the lack of progress in the US nuclear waste storage policy and how Finland’s solution could pave the way for a safer and more cost-effective nuclear waste disposal option on a global scale. Based on the passage above, create tags for this informative article.
Tags: nuclear waste, safety, storage, Finlad, success, cheaper, training, efficiency, consulting, collaboration.
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