The world’s most dangerous waste, the whole world is worried about its disposal. We are talking about nuclear waste. This waste is produced from every nuclear plant in the world. When electricity is generated in a nuclear plant, nuclear waste is left behind. This waste can spread radiation for thousands of years, so it is very important to dispose of this nuclear waste properly.
Now Finland has prepared a plan to bury this waste in infinite depths of the earth. Such graves are being built in the valleys of Finland for thousands of tons of nuclear waste, where it will remain buried for about one to two lakh years.
What is nuclear waste?
In fact, this waste is produced by every nuclear plant in the world. When a nuclear reactor produces electricity, its uranium fuel gradually depletes. After that what is left is spent fuel i.e. used fuel. This fuel contains radioactive elements, which can spread radiation for thousands of years. This spent fuel is called nuclear waste. It is very important to dispose of it properly. Scientists around the world have been searching for the answer to this question for decades: where should this waste be kept?
Permanent solution to nuclear waste
The world has been generating electricity from nuclear reactors since the 1950s, but no country has been able to find a permanent solution to nuclear waste. Most countries keep it in temporary storage pools or containers, but there remains a risk of radiation. To save the world from the same threat, Finland started work on a plan in 2004. The plan was to build an underground nuclear dustbin.
It is built in the south-western part of Finland. Onkalo means ‘cave’ in Finnish language. This nuclear facility has been built by cutting solid granite rocks. Its excavation started in 2004. Many scientists, geologists, engineers and security experts worked on this project for nearly two decades.
The thinking behind making the nuclear dustbin
Scientists have a special thinking behind making this nuclear dustbin at such a depth. Scientists thought that the nuclear waste should be buried at such a depth, where there is no impact of earthquake or flood and this place is not affected by any kind of attack, in such a condition the nuclear waste buried here will remain safe for millions of years.
Features of nuclear facility
Now just look at the merits of this nuclear facility. It is 433 meters below the ground i.e. about 1400 feet below. At this depth, tunnels have been made by cutting millions of years old rocks under the dense forests. According to scientists, these rocks are so strong that no major cracks will occur in them even in the next 10 lakh years. This entire system has been designed with many safety layers. It has been built like a prison where once nuclear waste is captured, it will not be able to come out.
Capacity to store about 6500 tons of nuclear waste
So many dustbins have been made in this underground facility that about 6,500 tons of nuclear waste can be kept in them. The plan is that after getting the approval, nuclear waste will be gradually deposited here for the next 100 years. After 100 years, when this storage is completely filled, it will be sealed forever. After that, no one will be allowed to touch this place or dig here for about 1 lakh years.
warning to future civilizations
Scientists say that over such a long period of time the radiation will gradually reduce and it may not even cause any harm. Scientists are doing research on how to warn future civilizations. Because 1 lakh years ago, modern human civilization did not exist on earth, then no one knows what civilization will be there, what language will be there after 1 lakh years. That is why scientists are working on creating such signs and messages that can indicate danger even after thousands of generations.
America has thousands of tons of spent fuel
The whole world is worried about nuclear waste, America has thousands of tons of spent fuel. France, Britain and Russia also have huge stocks of nuclear waste, but there is no effective technology to dispose of it. This project is now about to get final approval from the Nuclear Safety Agency of Finland. This facility will start fully functioning by the end of this year or early next year. Once it starts, Finland will become the first country to find a permanent solution for nuclear waste, and this can also provide a new way for other countries to dispose of their nuclear waste.
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