Developing the scientific and technical basis

SKB International offers other radioactive waste management organisations to make use of the complete laboratory capacity that SKB developed in the Oskarshamn municipality.

Experiments are essential for establishing the scientific and technological basis for demonstrating the safety of a deep geological repository. But it is not necessary for each country to develop its own laboratory capacity in this field.

Our laboratories

SKB designed, constructed and operates three laboratories:

• The Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory (Äspö HRL) commissioned in 1995
• The Canister Laboratory commissioned in 1998
• The Multipurpose test facility commissioned in 2007

Since many years, several countries take part in the activities of these laboratories to have access to the information generated in SKB’s RD&D programme.

Äspö Hard Rock Laboratory opens for other countries

As of 2011 SKB International has opened for waste management organisations in other countries to carry out their own experiments in the Äspö HRL.

New tunnels in the Äspö HRL, in total 100 m long, with undisturbed test locations are excavated in 2011-2012 dedicated for use by organisations other than SKB.

Accomplish your own experiments

The staff at Äspö HRL has long experience in planning, executing and analysing tests and experiments.

They are prepared to support other organisations which would like to accomplish their own tests or experiments at Äspö HRL.