| Country | Site / Programme | Host Rock | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Forsmark | Crystalline granite, ~500 m depth | Approved; construction underway |
| Finland | Olkiluoto / Onkalo | Crystalline granite, ~430 m depth | World’s first GDF; operational from ~2025 |
| France | Cigeo (Bure) | Clay, ~500 m depth | Underground laboratory operational; disposal facility planned |
| USA | Yucca Mountain, Nevada | Volcanic tuff | Vetoed by President Clinton (2000); revived then shelved; currently no active programme |
| Canada | Willingness-based siting | Crystalline or sedimentary rock | Community engagement ongoing |
| Switzerland | Northern Switzerland | Opalinus Clay | Site selected; licensing process |
Finland’s Onkalo facility is particularly notable as the world’s first deep geological repository to reach the operational phase, designed to accept spent nuclear fuel in copper-iron canisters surrounded by bentonite clay buffer.
The USA and Yucca Mountain: The US Department of Energy was well advanced in preparing the Yucca Mountain site in the Nevada Test Site for use as a HLW repository, aiming for operation by 2001. However, the plan was vetoed in April 2000 by President Clinton. The project was subsequently revived under the Bush administration, then effectively shelved again under the Obama administration when funding was withdrawn. The US currently has no active disposal programme, and spent fuel remains in on-site storage at reactor locations.