THE ASPO-HARD-ROCK-LABORATORY - A STEP TOWARD THE SWEDISH FINAL REPOSITORY FOR HIGH-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE-WASTE

Sweden's energy consumption produces about 250 metric tons of spent nuclear fuel annually. In order to meet the country's growing need for high-level radioactive waste disposal, the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB) has developed a waste management system that will ensure safe handling of all of Sweden's radioactive waste. To prepare for the siting and licensing of the final disposal site, SKB is constructing an underground research laboratory, the Aspo Hard Rock Laboratory, which will replace the underground laboratory at Stripa Mine that has been in operation since 1977. This article describes the R & D objectives of the Hard Rock Laboratory, as well as site characterization, layout and construction of the laboratory, which began in October 1990.