In the Scandinavian countries Finland and Sweden, a total number of 16 nuclear power plants have been erected. Sweden possesses 12 nuclear power plants at four sites. One of these plants, Barsebäck 1, was closed down in 1998. Between 1971 and 1985, nuclear power plants were operated with an output of 9,440 MW (million Watts) in total. The remaining 11 nuclear power plants currently produce approx. 45 per cent of Sweden's electricity.

In Finland, four nuclear power plants have been erected at two sites and operated since 1977. The installed electrical power amounts to 2,340 MW in total. These nuclear power plants generate 27 per cent of the electricity required in Finland.

Sweden as well as Finland intensively work on the final disposal of radioactive waste. In Sweden, the SKB (Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB - Swedish Society on Nuclear Fuel and Waste Disposal) is responsible for the treatment of waste, its transport and final disposal. In Sweden, radioactive waste is divided into three categories: low-, medium- and high-level waste.