International co-operation and research
The NWMO has co-operation agreements with our counterparts in Belgium, Finland, France, Japan, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States. We also have a memorandum of understanding with our counterpart in Taiwan.
Overview
Partnering with other radioactive waste management organizations allows us to:
- Foster international co-operation on the development and demonstration of technology;
- Learn from other countries’ experience; and
- Keep abreast of developments in repository design and safety case development for various host rock formations.
Underground research laboratories
Underground research laboratories provide facilities where we can test and demonstrate our understanding of the behaviour of engineered barriers and of the rock under true deep geological conditions.
We conduct research at different underground laboratories:
- The Mont Terri Underground Research Laboratory and Grimsel Test Site, both in Switzerland;
- The ONKALO Underground Rock Characterization Facility in Finland.
Collaboration with the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA)
The NWMO actively participates in several international activities organized by the NEA. We are a member of its Radioactive Waste Management Committee, the Integration Group for the Safety Case, and the Clay Club. Current major activities include:
- Thermodynamic Database Project
- Expert Group on Operational Safety
- Features, Events and Processes Database Project
- International Collaboration on Preservation of Records, Knowledge and Memory Across Generations
- The Crystalline Club
- Working Group on Measurement and Physical Understanding of Groundwater Flow Through Argillaceous Media (Clay Club)
Workshops and conferences
The NWMO’s knowledge base is enhanced through active participation in workshops and conferences sponsored by such organizations as the Canadian Nuclear Society, the NEA, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
