Historien
Norge var det sjette landet i verden som bygget og satte en atomreaktor i virksomhet. Den første reatkroen ble bygget på Kjeller i Lillestørm. Noen få år senere ble den verdensberøtme atomreaktoren i Halden bygget. I tillegg har Norge bygget et kombinert lager og deponi for atomavfall i Aurskog-Høland.
The starting point for the establishment of Norwegian nuclear reactors was that after World War II Norway wanted to actively participate in research in the field of nuclear physics and atomic energy in order to be able to harness atomic energy for peaceful purposes. The research was organized through the Institute of Atomic Energy (IFA) which was created in 1948. The institute eventually changed its name to the Institute of Energy Engineering (IFE).
IFE is an independent foundation that now owns the (now closed) Norwegian nuclear reactors.Norway has had four nuclear reactors, three at Kjeller and one at Halden.
JEEP II at Kjeller was closed in the spring of 2019, the Halden reactor in the summer of 2018, while the other two reactors were closed in the 1960s. None of the reactors that have been shut down have been completely demolished.
There is a national combined warehouse and landfill in Himdalen (Aurskog-Høland municipality in Akershus) for the final storage of low- and intermediate-level waste (KLDRA). The waste in Himdalen is operational waste from IFE's nuclear facilities and radioactive sources from industry, healthcare and the Armed Forces. The landfill was opened in 1998. Statsbyggare is the owner, while IFE is responsible for the operation.
Benefit from business
Norway has benefited significantly from its nuclear activities. Among other things, knowledge from the operation of the reactors has been transferred to the petroleum sector, which has made it possible to transport oil, condensate and water to shore rather than having to separate at the offshore oil installations (multi-phase flow). This has spared the petroleum sector from costly investments and brought huge revenues to the country.
Furthermore, Norway's involvement in the international research project Halden Project under the OECD has been important for the development of national and international expertise in nuclear safety work.
The reactor at Kjeller has also been important for basic research into materials and the development of nuclear medicine, where cancer treatment in particular is a current area of application. IFE also has important research communities in the field of renewable energy.
Our facilities
Read more about our facilities.
