The country has not had nuclear power plants but has operated research reactors in the past - the nuclear fuel and materials testing reactor at Halden and the JEEP-II neutron scattering facility at Kjeller were declared permanently shut down in June 2018 and April 2019, respectively.
Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND) stresses that "based on international experience, social acceptance and participation are important for successful localisation of nuclear waste facilities".
The letters sent to the municipalities are not to decide on a specific site yet, but to gauge their interest in participating in "further investigation, dialogue and any planning processes related to the location of facilities for Norwegian radioactive waste".
The areas invited - which were selected "after a comprehensive assessment based on 18 different criteria" are: Aremark, Aurskog-Høland, Eidsvoll, Enebakk, Fredrikstad, Frogn, Gran, Halden, Inner Østfold, Lillestrøm, Marker, Nes, Nesodden, Nordre Follo, Rakkestad, Sarpsborg, Stange, Sør-Odal, Ullensaker, Vestby, Våler, Ås.
Director of Communications at NND, Martin Andreasson, said: "If we do not receive signals that the municipality wishes to enter into a further process, we will assume that the municipality does not wish to be considered as a possible host municipality."
NND plans to build a range of different facilities: Storage for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste; storage for used nuclear fuel; a treatment plant where waste can be sorted, processed and treated; and final disposal landfills, "including deep disposal for used fuel/high-level radioactive waste".
It says the location process will be "open, evidence-based and verifiable. The process shall ensure that alternative locations can be compared in a systematic manner". Examples of criteria to be used include "geology, natural hazards, land use and biodiversity, transportation and energy access, socio-economic consequences, how quickly the solution can be realised, and more".
Background
Although Norway does not currently operate any nuclear power plants, in June 2024 the government appointed a committee to conduct a broad review and assessment of various aspects of a possible future establishment of nuclear power in the country. It must deliver its report by 1 April 2026.
Last month the Norwegian Environment Agency said it was sending a proposal for a study programme for a nuclear power plant in Aure and Heim municipalities for consultation to neighbouring countries.
In May US-based engineering company Amentum and its joint venture partner Multiconsult Norge AS were selected selected by NND to deliver safety case management and training for Norway's nuclear clean-up programme.
This contract is focused on delivering a new methodology for robust and well-documented safety cases for new design and existing legacy nuclear facilities, including reactors in shut down conditions, post-operational clean-out and decommissioning, as well as facilities for storage and management of used fuel and radioactive waste. It covers work at KLDRA - a combined storage and disposal facility for low and intermediate-level radioactive waste in Himdalen in Aurskog/Høland - and the two research reactor sites.
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