Final Repository for short-lived radioactive waste – SFR

SFR is a facility where short-lived low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste is deposited. It receives operational waste from the nuclear power plants and Clab , as well as radioactive waste from medical care, research and industry.

SFR is located near the Forsmark nuclear power plant in Östhammar municipality, approximately 100 km north of Stockholm. The repository is situated 60 metres down in the bedrock beneath the Baltic Sea.

Two one-kilometre-long access tunnels lead from the harbour in Forsmark to the repository area. The facility consists of four 160-metre-long rock vaults, plus a 70-metre-high rock cavern with a concrete silo built inside. The facility has a total capacity of 63,000 cubic metres of waste.

SFR was licensed and started operation in 1988. SKB will extend the facility to accommodate decommissioning and additional operational waste from the Swedish nuclear power plants. The licence application for the extension was granted in 2021 and the underground excavation works are now ongoing. This means that the repository area is not open to visitors for the time being. Subject to availability it is however still possible to visit SKB’s local office to see the surface area and get information about SFR and the operations.