Permanent Disposal
The generations that benefit from the advantages of secure supplies of competitive and CO2-free electricity generation from nuclear power, and of nuclear medicine, must also bear the responsibility for waste disposal. Safe interim storage is only a temporary solution. The disposal issue must not be postponed to future generations.
The peaceful use of nuclear energy produces low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, in research and medicine, as well as in the operation of nuclear power plants; the last also produces high-level waste. In Germany, about 90 percent of the accumulated nuclear waste is of low- and intermediate-level radioactivity (ca. 270,000 cubic meters) and about 10 percent is high-level (ca. 24,000 cubic meters). Currently, the radioactive wastes are in interim storage facilities. They have to then be permanently disposed of in deep geological formations.
It is the Federal Government's responsibility to provide suitable, which means safe, final repository sites. Within the Federal Government, responsibility rests with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety and its subordinate top federal agency, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). The German Society for Construction and Operation of Waste Repositories mbH serves this function in practice. Ultimately, the authorities in the states where a repository is located are responsible for its approval. The costs of waste disposal are borne by the producer of the waste: that means essentially the energy supply companies, but also the public sector.
Technically, the issue of final storage has already been solved. As is standard procedure throughout the world, Germany relies on technically safe, beneficial, separated repositories of different types of waste. By comparison with other nations, Germany has a far-advanced concept of waste management. This well-established two-facility concept for final waste disposal consists of the locations at the Konrad Shaft and the salt dome exploratory mine in Gorleben.
Konrad Shaft - An Approved Permanent Repository for Low- and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste
Konrad Shaft, approved for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, is a former iron ore mine in Salzgitter, which is intended to provide for disposal of all low- and intermediate-level wastes accumulated in Germany. Two-thirds of that is to come from the energy companies and one-third from the public sector: for example, wastes from research laboratories and clinics.
The final repository was approved in 2002 by the Lower Saxony Environment Ministry. In April 2007, the Federal Administrative Court upheld the decision. In early 2008, the State Office for Mining, Energy, and Geology of Lower Saxony accepted the main operating plan for construction of the repository in early 2008. Work also began on upgrading the Konrad Shaft. The BfS plans to commission the disposal facility in the middle of this decade.
The Gorleben Salt Dome - Potentially Suitable Repository for Highly Radioactive Waste
Germany has chosen rock salt as a final disposal medium for high-level radioactive waste. Rock salt is more suitable for this than almost any other type of rock. Indeed, Germany is internationally envied for its rock salt deposits.
The salt dome in Lower Saxony's Gorleben was selected, after a thorough scientific investigation, from over 140 salt domes. The decision was made jointly between the Federal Government and the state of Lower Saxony. The municipalities and the local public also participated. Gorleben could absorb all the highly radioactive waste accumulated in Germany.
According to the current extent of geological exploration, the salt dome is suitable as a final repository for highly radioactive waste. If things go as expected, further exploration and a subsequent approval process will also confirm the suitability of the site, and a final repository could go into operation at the Gorleben salt dome at the end of the next decade.
The peaceful use of nuclear energy produces low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, in research and medicine, as well as in the operation of nuclear power plants; the last also produces high-level waste. In Germany, about 90 percent of the accumulated nuclear waste is of low- and intermediate-level radioactivity (ca. 270,000 cubic meters) and about 10 percent is high-level (ca. 24,000 cubic meters). Currently, the radioactive wastes are in interim storage facilities. They have to then be permanently disposed of in deep geological formations.
It is the Federal Government's responsibility to provide suitable, which means safe, final repository sites. Within the Federal Government, responsibility rests with the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety and its subordinate top federal agency, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). The German Society for Construction and Operation of Waste Repositories mbH serves this function in practice. Ultimately, the authorities in the states where a repository is located are responsible for its approval. The costs of waste disposal are borne by the producer of the waste: that means essentially the energy supply companies, but also the public sector.
Technically, the issue of final storage has already been solved. As is standard procedure throughout the world, Germany relies on technically safe, beneficial, separated repositories of different types of waste. By comparison with other nations, Germany has a far-advanced concept of waste management. This well-established two-facility concept for final waste disposal consists of the locations at the Konrad Shaft and the salt dome exploratory mine in Gorleben.
Konrad Shaft - An Approved Permanent Repository for Low- and Intermediate-Level Radioactive Waste
Konrad Shaft, approved for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste, is a former iron ore mine in Salzgitter, which is intended to provide for disposal of all low- and intermediate-level wastes accumulated in Germany. Two-thirds of that is to come from the energy companies and one-third from the public sector: for example, wastes from research laboratories and clinics.
The final repository was approved in 2002 by the Lower Saxony Environment Ministry. In April 2007, the Federal Administrative Court upheld the decision. In early 2008, the State Office for Mining, Energy, and Geology of Lower Saxony accepted the main operating plan for construction of the repository in early 2008. Work also began on upgrading the Konrad Shaft. The BfS plans to commission the disposal facility in the middle of this decade.
The Gorleben Salt Dome - Potentially Suitable Repository for Highly Radioactive Waste
Germany has chosen rock salt as a final disposal medium for high-level radioactive waste. Rock salt is more suitable for this than almost any other type of rock. Indeed, Germany is internationally envied for its rock salt deposits.
The salt dome in Lower Saxony's Gorleben was selected, after a thorough scientific investigation, from over 140 salt domes. The decision was made jointly between the Federal Government and the state of Lower Saxony. The municipalities and the local public also participated. Gorleben could absorb all the highly radioactive waste accumulated in Germany.
According to the current extent of geological exploration, the salt dome is suitable as a final repository for highly radioactive waste. If things go as expected, further exploration and a subsequent approval process will also confirm the suitability of the site, and a final repository could go into operation at the Gorleben salt dome at the end of the next decade.
