Stakeholder engagement when a deep geological repository site for spent nuclear fuel is licensed

FSC 3

For almost two-and-a-half decades, the NEA Forum on Stakeholder Confidence (FSC) has served as a platform to build understanding and enhance stakeholder engagement in the fields of radioactive waste management, decommissioning and legacy management.

To progress on these themes, the NEA convened 70 participants from 15 countries at an FSC Swedish National Workshop focused on Dialogue and Transparency When a Site and Method are Licensed. The workshop was organised by the FSC and hosted by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority (SSM) and municipality of Östhammar from 23-24 September 2024 in Sweden.

FSC 4The workshop provided a forum to share experiences and exchange information on stakeholder engagement after a geological repository site for spent nuclear fuel has been chosen and licensed.

The first day of the workshop, held at the SSM offices in Solna, focused on the present and future role of SSM on stakeholder engagement to further explore topics raised by research projects, including:

  • How to meaningfully include stakeholder participation from a regulatory perspective and
  • To what extent do present generations need to be consulted regarding future post-closure costs and what are effective mechanisms to engage them in discussions

To discuss these questions, seven groups consisting of waste management organisations, regulators, government agencies, and representatives from the municipality of Östhammar had roundtable discussions from the perspective of ensuring inclusive and meaningful stakeholder participation in dialogues around future steps in the sustainable management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, and ultimately, post-closure.

FSC FSC 2 

The second day of the workshop featured meetings with community members in Östhammar, which was chosen as the site for Sweden’s geological repository in 2009, and with high school students from Östhammar Vattenfallsgymnasiet who were invited to share their views. Municipality of Östhammar and Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) representatives also provided insights into how they have been engaging with local stakeholders through the siting and now, the construction processes for the repository. During discussions, it was highlighted that close communication between SSM, SKB and the municipality of Östhammar over the years was essential in building trust. The Östhammar mayor also noted that sharing experiences with municipalities in other countries was helpful and is recommended as a good practice. Potential changes in future societal needs relative to viewpoints informing current decision making and the importance of youth involvement in defining outcomes that could affect them in the future were identified as key challenges, and the high school students were actively involved in the debate.

A key part of the discussion highlighted the importance of applying the good practices and lessons learnt over the decades in building safe, secure and sustainable energy systems to address societal needs now and in the future. The need for early and proactive engagement and ‘cradle-to-grave’ planning starting early in decommissioning was recognised as a mechanism to ‘get ahead of the curve’ in terms of radioactive waste management, with consideration of recycling and reuse to minimise waste.

Shared experience during the workshop will aid in the establishment of international good practice on stakeholder involvement relating to deep geological repositories for nuclear spent fuel and radioactive waste in Sweden and beyond.

See also