This thesis investigates the socio- and environmental economic effects of a deep repository for spent nuclear fuel in Forsmark in the municipality of Östhammar. I seek to show the general picture but focus on the effects on employment, environment and income. Cost-benefit analysis is used to investigate the differences in utility between a scenario with and a scenario without a deep repository in Forsmark.
Most of the possible effects can not be valued and many can not even be quantified with the data available today. Therefore this thesis has a bit of a “preliminary study character” and seeks to show what we know today and what needs to be further investigated when available data allow it.
The costs that could be valued are noise from the traffic during the period of building and emissions of carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the transportation of rock masses during the building period. These costs are valued to approximately 16,7 million Swedish crowns. The income is 7 billion Swedish crowns and consists of direct wages and tax incomes. This points to a profit of 6 983 million Swedish crowns which suggest that a deep repository in Forsmark will be profitable for society. But several effects that could affect the result are not included in this valuation. The calculation of the alternative cost of employing a new worker, spin-off effects and direct and indirect effects on the demand in the area could affect the outcome of the valuation. The feelings surrounding the repository can affect or example demand, employment and incomes. Several environmental costs could not be valued, for example the risks of radioactive emissions, effects on sea- and subsoil water and emissions from other traffic from the repository. The calculations are also complicated by the long period of time which includes an ice age and the fact that external factors such as a nuclear accident abroad coul...
