South Thuringia is not yet out: Search for a nuclear waste repository
Status of the search for a nuclear waste repository in Germany
The search for a repository for high-level radioactive waste in Germany has been going on for decades. In 2017, the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) presented a concept for a repository in a rock salt formation in Gorleben, Lower Saxony. However, this concept was rejected by the Bundestag in 2019. Since then, the BGE has been looking for new potential repository sites.
In 2021, the BGE published a report on the suitability of different geological formations in Germany for a nuclear waste repository. The report identified a number of potential sites, including one in South Thuringia. However, the BGE has not yet decided whether to pursue the South Thuringian site further.
The situation in South Thuringia
The potential repository site in South Thuringia is located in the district of Schmalkalden-Meiningen. The site is a former potash mine that was closed in 1993. The BGE has conducted a number of investigations at the site to assess its suitability for a nuclear waste repository.
The BGE's investigations have shown that the South Thuringian site has a number of advantages. The site is located in a stable geological formation, and it is not located in an area with a high risk of earthquakes. The site is also relatively close to a number of nuclear power plants, which would make it easier to transport the nuclear waste to the repository.
However, the BGE has also identified a number of challenges with the South Thuringian site. The site is located in a densely populated area, and there is some concern about the potential impact of a nuclear waste repository on the local environment. The BGE is also still investigating the potential for groundwater contamination at the site.
The next steps
The BGE is expected to make a decision on whether to pursue the South Thuringian site further in the coming months. If the BGE decides to pursue the site, it will need to conduct additional investigations and obtain a permit from the Federal Ministry for the Environment. The construction of a nuclear waste repository in South Thuringia would be a major project that would take many years to complete.
Conclusion
The search for a repository for high-level radioactive waste in Germany is a complex and challenging process. The BGE is still investigating a number of potential sites, including one in South Thuringia. The BGE is expected to make a decision on whether to pursue the South Thuringian site further in the coming months.
