Canada to build nuclear grave nearly 700m deep

The deep geological repository in Canada will have multiple layers of natural and man-made protection to safely isolate spent nuclear fuel .

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) has selected the Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Nation (WLON) and the Township of Ignace as the host communities for Canada's first deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel. The announcement comes after a 14-year selection process. 'The project will address environmental concerns and support Canada's climate change goals , ' Laurie Swami, president and CEO of NWMO, told Interesting Engineering on November 29.

Finland's Okalo nuclear waste bunker. (Photo: Yahoo).

The repository will provide a long-term solution for the safe management of spent nuclear fuel , a byproduct of Canada's nuclear power generation. Spent nuclear fuel is currently stored at reactor sites and laboratories across the country. However, a permanent solution is needed to ensure the safety of current and future generations. NWMO has identified a deep geological repository as the most effective solution for the long-term management of this material.

The repository will be built at a depth of 650 - 680 m, significantly deeper than the CN Tower (553 m) . That depth will help isolate the spent nuclear fuel from the environment and human activities. It will include a network of underground tunnels and waste storage rooms.

According to the NWMO, a series of technical and natural barriers will be combined to safely store spent nuclear fuel in the repository. These barriers include sturdy containers, seals, and surrounding geological formations. Each barrier will provide a unique and independent level of protection, while also acting as a backup to the previous barrier. If any barrier fails, the others will continue to isolate the hazardous material.

The selection of WLON and Ignace follows a screening process that began in 2010, with 22 communities expressing interest. NWMO provided information and answered questions about the project to each community. In addition, the project will undergo regulatory review by the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission and the Canadian government. Construction of the deep geological repository and transportation of spent nuclear fuel will begin in the 2030s and 2040s, respectively.

A few months ago, Finland became the first country in the world to bury nuclear fuel waste in a geological grave for storage for the next 100,000 years. They plan to place the spent nuclear fuel in waterproof containers and bury it about 400 meters underground in a forest in southwestern Finland.