ABSTRACT
The history of the management of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel (SNF)1 goes back to the beginning of the development of civilian and military nuclear power programmes in the 1940s (Jacob, 1990; Berkhout, 1991; de la Bruheze, 1992; Shrader-Frechette, 1993). Finland and Sweden are today the countries with the furthest advanced radioactive waste management programmes, and are often highlighted in international debate as ‘success stories’ – examples for other countries to follow. This chapter examines the disposal of SNF in Finland, focusing specifically on the role of socioeconomic evaluation in explaining the relatively rapid and smooth advancement of the project.
