Norway and Sweden Sign Long-Term Agreement for Cross-Border Processing of Spent Fuel from Decommissioned Research Reactors

Recently, the Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND) and the Swedish nuclear technical service provider Studsvik formally signed a landmark agreement in Halden valid until 2055, under which the latter will take full responsibility for the cross-border transport, inspection, oxidation treatment, and interim storage of spent nuclear fuel from the former research reactors at Halden and Kjeller in Norway.

It is understood that Norway has accumulated approximately 16.5 tonnes of spent research reactor fuel over the past 60 years, including metallic uranium fuel, aluminum-clad fuel, and various experimental fuels, the vast majority of which cannot be directly subjected to long-term safe disposal. Under the agreement, Studsvik will transport this spent fuel to its licensed facility outside Nykoping, Sweden, for oxidation and other key processing, after which it will be temporarily stored in Sweden until it is returned to Norway in the future for final geological disposal.

The minimum contract value of the project is estimated at approximately SEK 875 million (about USD 88.3 million, subject to completion of transport by 2035), with the potential total lifetime business value reaching as high as SEK 3 billion to 4 billion. Preliminary studies will be conducted within the next 6 months to determine the detailed execution plan, and the main processing work will be concentrated within the next 20 years. NND retains considerable autonomy to issue specific work orders in phases based on regulatory progress and cost assessments.

Norway's two core research reactors——the Halden Reactor and the Kjeller JEEP-II reactor——were permanently shut down in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The entire decommissioning and nuclear waste management project is expected to cost more than NOK 21 billion (about USD 2.2 billion) and last no less than 20 years. NND Director Pal Mikkelsen and Studsvik CEO Karl Thedeen both stated that this cross-border cooperation opens up a long-term solution that combines safety, environmental friendliness, and economic efficiency for Norway's most challenging nuclear waste management.