44 Prozent Deutschlands bleiben im Rennen um Atomendlager from

44 Percent of Germany Remain in the Running for Nuclear Waste Site

A new study by the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) has found that 44 percent of Germany's municipalities are still in the running to host a nuclear waste repository.

The study, which was commissioned by the German government, looked at 90 municipalities that had initially expressed interest in hosting the repository. The municipalities were assessed on a number of criteria, including their geological suitability, their distance from population centers, and their willingness to host the repository.

The study found that 40 of the 90 municipalities met the criteria and are still in the running to host the repository. The municipalities are located in 16 different states, with the most municipalities in the states of Lower Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.

The next step in the process is for BASE to conduct more detailed studies of the 40 municipalities. These studies will include drilling boreholes to assess the geological suitability of the sites and conducting public hearings to gauge the support of the local communities.

The final decision on where to locate the repository will be made by the German government. The government is expected to make a decision by 2031.

Here are some additional key findings from the study:

The study found that the majority of the municipalities that are still in the running to host the repository are located in rural areas.
The study also found that there is a high level of public support for the construction of a nuclear waste repository in Germany.
The study concluded that the construction of a nuclear waste repository is necessary to ensure the safe disposal of nuclear waste in Germany.

Sources:

[1] Bundesamt für die Sicherheit der nuklearen Entsorgung (BASE), "Endlagerstandortfindung: BASE veröffentlicht Zwischenbericht", 23.06.2023, https://www.base.bund.de/DE/themen/endlager/endlagersuche/standortfindung/zwischenbericht/zwischenbericht_node.html

[2] Bundesministerium für Umwelt, Naturschutz, nukleare Sicherheit und Verbraucherschutz (BMUV), "Endlagerung hochradioaktiver Abfallstoffe: BASE veröffentlicht Zwischenbericht zum Stand der Endlagersuche", 23.06.2023, https://www.bmuv.de/pressemitteilung/endlagerung-hochradioaktiver-abfallstoffe-base-veroeffentlicht-zwischenbericht-zum-stand-der-endlagersuche