On 4 December 2019, the Norwegian Environmental Protection Association (NMF) participated in a meeting where the topic was the storage and disposal of nuclear waste from the reactors at Kjeller and in Halden as well as the demolition of the facilities themselves. It was manager Kurt Oddekalv and case manager Industrial Affairs and regional manager Jan-Hugo Holten (pictured) in the Norwegian Environment Protection Association who met for NMF. The meeting was organized by Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning. The latter is a state-owned company under the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
FACTS
Norway has had four nuclear reactors, three at Kjeller and one in Halden. The last reactor at Kjeller was closed in spring 2019, the Halden reactor in summer 2018, while the other two reactors were closed in the 1960s. In 2018, the government established the state administrative body Norwegian nuclear decommissioning (NND) to contribute with increased competence, capacity and progress in the clean-up work after the nuclear activities in Norway.
NND has established a National Reference Group consisting of several independent organizations (NGOs), where the Norwegian Environmental Protection Association is one of several participating organizations that will provide input during the process. Participating organizations are Green Warriors of Norway, No to Nuclear Weapons, the Nature Conservancy Association, Nature and Youth, Bellona, Doctors Against Nuclear Weapons, and the Women's League for Peace.
It is historically the first time this will be done in Norway, and NMF sees positively that environmental organizations are included and are allowed to participate actively with input during all phases of the process of decommissioning the reactors in order to find the best solutions for removal, handling and storage .
Links:
The meeting in the resource group
NMF had previously recorded the following points for the meeting;
- Radioactive waste Red sand into the loop?
- IFE's crews into NND - their competence and credibility?
- Landfill location - early clarification of non-applicable locations
- Criteria for localization
- The KS one and the consultants' expertise... is it good and relevant enough
- Does Norway have enough expertise?
NMF's representatives believe that the meeting was very good and that the process of nuclear waste is in safe hands. This is the best participation meeting I have ever attended, says Kurt Oddekalv, who believes that the process with the NGOs is honorable.
The meetings with NGOs are part of the input process for NND regarding solutions and localization of various amounts of radioactive waste of various categories as well as the demolition of the facilities.
The meeting with NND on 4 December was one of three for 2019 for NMF.
Not a new Breviksak
NMF is very clear that we must not get a new Breviksak with the nuclear waste on location solution. Therefore, one of the points (3) was early clarification of non-applicable locations. Furthermore, NMF focused on solid suppliers who do not go bankrupt in the process as an important aspect.
NMF has been working for 30 years to close down the facilities at Kjeller and Halden. When it finally happens, it will be nice that we actually get to take part in the process of finding good solutions for the storage of the nuclear waste and the demolition of the facilities.
The Swedish Environmental Protection Agency calls for a nuclear freeze (2007)
Documents (PDF)
- The Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority (DSA) – Radioactive waste until 2035
- NND – What is the state's project model
- DNV-GL – KVU stage 2 Decommissioning Kjeller and Halden
- NND – Presentation 20191204 NGO meeting
- NND – Minutes of meeting 3 NGO 4 December 2019
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