Nuclear power plant operations are governed by extensive regulations, particularly regarding waste management. Independent reviews are conducted regularly to ensure correct waste processing, which further ensures the continuous improvement of waste management procedures, so that our nuclear power plants can operate safely and result in minimal impact of the environment.
The drawbacks of nuclear power
Radioactive waste can be harmful to humans, animal and plant life for extended periods of time. However, its harmfulness recedes over time, in contrast to many hazardous chemicals. Radioactive substances break down and eventually form new stable nonradioactive substances, but this takes time.
Transportation of radioactive waste
In Sweden, nuclear power plants are located along coastlines. This allows for the transportation of radioactive waste by sea. The ship that transports radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, research facilities and hospitals, is called M/S Sigrid and is owned by the Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Company (SKB). The ship’s primary task is to transport spent fuel from nuclear power plants to the Central Storage for Spent Nuclear Fuel (CLAB) at Oskarshamn. At the Barsebäck Plant, waste from its former era of operation is still being processed for retrieval by M/S Sigrid. The waste is then transported to either the CLAB or the Final Repository for Short-Lived Radioactive Waste (SFR) in Forsmark or Studsvik.
SKB handles the radioactive waste from nuclear power plants, as well as from research, hospitals and other industries.
Find out more
Information about how we process waste from the demolition of Barsebäcksverket.
Here is some information about Barsebäck’s environmental permits and certifications for the environment, and occupational health and safety.
Radiation is everywhere around us. We are exposed to radiation from space, from bedrock and our own bodies every day. Humans have also created artificial sources of radiation.