Status: 12.11.2022 10:01 a.m
The search for a repository for highly radioactive nuclear waste in Germany is apparently taking much longer than planned – possibly up to 2046, reports the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
A location for highly radioactive waste could be determined in the faster of two scenarios by 2046, reports the “Süddeutsche Zeitung”, which has a paper from the Federal Agency for EndRepository (BGE). Accordingly, in the slower scenario, a decision would not be made until 2068.
The evaluation of geological data and the development of the necessary methods require more time, said BGE managing director Steffen Kanitz of the newspaper. “The effort has gradually arisen.”
The schedule has been faltering for a long time
It had already become known on Thursday that the previously targeted date of 2031 could not be met. The Federal Environment Ministry had announced that the procedure for the search for a repository could not be completed by 2031 “taking into account the high requirements for the selection of the site with the best possible safety”. The department referred to a BGE paper that had been written at the request of the ministry.
A spokesman for the Ministry of the Environment explained that the “principle of the best possible safety is also subject to time specifications”. At the same time, however, “the goal must not be lost sight of”. The ministry announced that it would hold talks with the BGE and the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) as the responsible supervisory authority. The BASE is responsible for overseeing the selection process, the BGE for its implementation.
Search for a repository for a million years
Despite tough procedures, a location should be fixed by 2031. From 2050 the repository should be put into operation. The so-called Site Selection Act explicitly states: “The aim is to determine the site for the year 2031.”
“The site selection process aims to find the site for a repository that offers the best safety over a period of one million years,” the ministry spokesman said. “This is a high aspiration and a challenging task.” He also pointed out that the year 2031 had been adopted as the target from the results of the Repository Commission in the Site Selection Act. However, it was already clear back then that the actual time requirements would be difficult to estimate.