Research reactors and nuclear facilities in Norway

Kjeller research reactor 

• JEEP II is located at Kjeller in the municipality of Skedsmo in Viken, about 20 km northeast of Oslo city centre.
• Operational between 1966 and 2019. 
• Thermal output: 2 MW
• Used for fundamental research and the production of isotopes for medical and technical use, as well as the doping of silicon with phosphorus in the production of semiconductors
• There are also storages and other installations linked to the research reactors. These installations include storage facilities for fresh and spent fuel, treatment facilities for radioactive waste and a laboratory for handling spent fuel and radioactive substances.

Halden research reactor  

• Situated at Månefjellet, just outside the centre of Halden, about 95 km southeast of Oslo.
• Operational from 1959 to 2018. 
• Thermal output: 25 MW
• Part of an international research project under the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), an OECD organisation.
• Used for material research concerning various types of nuclear fuel and the development of measurement methods and instruments. The reactor also supplied steam to Norske skog’s production facility in Halden.
• There are also storage and other installations linked to the research reactors. These facilities include storage facilities for fresh and spent fuel and a laboratory for handling spent fuel and radioactive substances.

The NORA research reactor

• Was situated at Kjeller in the municipality of Skedsmo in Viken, about 20 km northeast of Oslo city centre.
• Operational from 1961 to 1968

The JEEP I research reactor

• Was situated at Kjeller in the municipality of Skedsmo in Viken, about 20 km northeast of Oslo city centre.
• Operational from 1951 to 1967
• Thermal output: 400 kW

Combined storage facility and repository in Himdalen (KLDRA)

• The national radioactive waste repository is situated in Himdalen, Viken.
• Used for the storage of low- and medium-level radioactive waste from the nuclear facilities at Kjeller and Halden and from radioactive sources used in industry, defence, medicine and consumables.
• The repository is owned by the Norwegian Directorate of Public Construction and Property (Statsbygg) and operated by the Institute for Energy Technology (IFE). 

Who owns the Norwegian reactors?

The Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) owns and operates the Norwegian research reactors, but the state-owned company Norwegian Nuclear Decommissioning (NND) is set to take over owner responsibility for the reactors in the future. They will then become responsible for decommissioning the research reactors and managing the nuclear waste.

What will happen when the Norwegian research reactors have been shut down?

The reactors will be dismantled in a process known as decommissioning. This process will involve the demolition of buildings and the removal of all nuclear waste. This is an expensive and time-consuming process and must be carefully planned.

Before the practical work is begun, the owners have to obtain many permits from the DSA. They must assess the impact on the environment and society at large of shutting down the reactors, and they must have a permit under the Pollution Control Act to handle radioactive waste and discharges of radioactive substances.

What legislation are research reactors covered by?

The following laws apply to research reactors in Norway:

• Enterprises must have a license to own and operate a research reactor pursuant to the Nuclear Energy Act.  
• The owner must have the necessary approvals and permits pursuant to the Radiation Protection Act and the Pollution Control Act
• The owner must also follow the Regulation on systematic control of health, environment and safety at work in enterprises, the Planning and Building Act and the Regulation on impact assessments.
• Safeguards and physical security are addressed by the Act relating to Protective Security Services and Regulation on the possession, sale and transport of nuclear material and multipurpose goods. 

Norway has also committed to many agreements and conventions:

• Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons from 1970
• Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material
• Convention on Nuclear Safety
• Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive

Waste Management

Norway follow the guidelines issued by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). IAEA has published many internationally recognised recommendations concerning nuclear safety.