SKB signs new agreement with South Korean repository organisation

Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company, SKB, through its subsidiary SKB International, has signed a new Memorandum of Understanding with its counterpart in South Korea, Korea Radioactive Waste Agency (KORAD). The agreement, which is an information exchange agreement, strengthens the relationship and cooperation between the two organisations.

Through its subsidiary SKB International, SKB has many international collaborations and assignments. The world’s nations using nuclear energy are at different stages in developing solutions for the final disposal of nuclear waste. Sweden, through SKB, is a pioneer in this area, having already a repository for short-lived radioactive waste (SFR) and begun construction of a spent nuclear fuel repository—both located in Forsmark, Östhammar Municipality.

SKB has long maintained an exchange with its South Korean counterpart and is now strengthening the relationship by renewing its information exchange agreement, which was signed by both parties at SKB’s headquarters in Stockholm.

Stefan Engdahl, CEO SKB Photo Mikael Wallerstedt

— SKB has a solution for managing Sweden’s nuclear waste that is based on 40 years of research and technological development. Many other nations using nuclear energy face similar challenges but are at an earlier stage in their final repository programs. We can therefore contribute by sharing our experiences, our methods, and how we developed the solution we have today, says Stefan Engdahl, CEO of SKB.

SKB International has several ongoing projects with KORAD

Magnus Holmqvist, CEO of SKB International, participated in the signing and emphasizes that SKB International already has several projects with KORAD to export Swedish expertise in nuclear waste management.

Magnus Holmqvist, CEO SKB International. Foto Mikael Wallerstedt

— We are very pleased to have a new information-sharing agreement in place with KORAD. It reaffirms our ambitions to share knowledge between our organisations, says Magnus Holmqvist.

— SKB International already has several ongoing projects with KORAD. For example, we are currently conducting benchmark modelling, where we perform the same modelling as KORAD and KAERI (Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute) and then compare the results. We are also reviewing a site selection report based on a theoretical site for an underground laboratory. Additionally, we are helping them develop a master schedule for when investments need to be made in a transport system for nuclear waste from producers to the repositories, says Magnus Holmqvist.