Stakeholder communication

Transparent and active stakeholder communication is a crucial part for gaining and maintaining societal and local acceptance during the process of designing, constructing and operating a final repository.

In Sweden, a nuclear waste management programme and the development of geological repositories must be accepted by the local community in the short and long term. Numerous examples exist where national programs have been halted, not due to technical challenges, but rather due to a lack of trust from key stakeholders or the general public. This lack of trust has proven to be a significant barrier, rendering further advancement impossible.

Gaining local trust and support require continuous and active work over decades. The implementing organisation needs to respect the concerns of others and engage in proactive and honest dialogue.

High approval rate

SKB is used to working actively with stakeholders and the public to obtain local support for our activities. We have designed, managed and executed a well communicated and respected site investigation programme in two different communities, gaining an approval rate of 70-80 % from the public.

Our offering:

• Helping the client in mapping rules and regulations concerning public involvement.
• Analysing different methods of involving local authorities in the siting activities.
• Analysing and developing a plan for public involvement at the different stages of implementing the nuclear waste management programme.
• Developing a programme for national consultations on a geological disposal facility for nuclear waste or spent nuclear fuel.
• Developing policies, strategies, instructions and routines for carrying out an active outreach programme with potential host communities.
• Drafting internal plans and strategies, for instance risk and incident management concerning stakeholder involvement.