Norway's two research reactors at Halden and Kjeller are operated by Institutt for Energiteknikk (Institute for Energy Technology) (IFE). After over 60 years in operation, the nuclear activities of IFE have generated about 17 tonnes of spent reactor fuel, currently stored at 7 storeage areas at IFE's sites at Halden and at Kjeller. Of this waste 3/4 (under 13 tonnes) is unstable spent fuel, which must be treated to be converted into stable form. IFE also operates Combined storage and repository for low and intermediate level radioactive waste (KLDRA) in Himdalen.

It is not decided when decommissioning (dismantling) of IFE's nuclear facility in Halden and Kjeller will take place. In principle, the plants can be closed whenever the NRPA finds the continued operation of the reactors unsafe, or if IFE finds it unprofitable to continue operating. According to IFE, there is storeage capacity at Halden until 2025 and at Kjeller until 2032 at current rates of operation.

Requirements for safe interim storage of radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel have been studied in several committees established by the state (see Appendix 1 for further details). The studies that have been conducted in the case conclude that there is a need for a new intermediate storage solution that has the capacity to absorb current and future reactor spent fuel and other long-lived radioactive waste in Norway.

The Government will decide on a conceptual solution for the future intermediate storage of spent fuel and other long-lived radioactive waste. The assessment basis for the decision on a conceptual solution is a concept selection assessment (KVU). The KVU shall be designed in accordance with the preconditions and chapter structure for the quality assurance of concept selection (KS1) provided by the Finance Ministry's framework agreement of 4 March 2011 on quality assurance of concept selection as well as the management basis and cost estimate for the chosen project alternative.

Thereafter the KVU shall be externally quality assured through the KS1 and KS2 processes.

We refer to previous reports in the case. The KVU will, among other things, take as it's starting point the recommendations in the Stranden Committee's report (NOU 2011:2), as specified in Appendix 1 to the contract.

Complete description of the deliverables is set out in Appendix 1 to the contract. Work will take place from commencement of the contract and tentatively nine months ahead.

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