Finland approves first permanent nuclear waste site

Finland has granted a license for the world's first permanent nuclear waste repository, called "Onkalo," after 22 years of construction. The repository is located inside a stable rock formation dating back 1.9 billion years in the southwestern region of Yläne. It will store around 6,500 tons of uranium from Finland’s five reactors, using copper containers and sophisticated methods to safely preserve the fuel for tens of thousands of years. Operations are expected to commence soon after completing the required tests and final approvals. The project has a cost of approximately $1.16 billion and will be the first permanently operated underground nuclear waste storage facility worldwide.