Germany is at a crucial turning point when it comes to managing its nuclear waste. In 2025, a warning has been issued concerning the worrying accumulation of 700 tonnes of this highly radioactive residue. This situation raises pressing questions about the country’s storage and treatment strategies.
While nuclear energy continues to divide public opinion, the environmental and safety issues associated with this waste are becoming increasingly urgent. How does Germany intend to meet this major challenge, while ensuring the safety of its citizens and the protection of the environment?
Transport and origin of nuclear waste
Transporting highly radioactive nuclear waste to Germany is a complex process, requiring stringent safety measures. Recently, a large consignment of this waste reached the port of Nordenham in Lower Saxony, prompting protests. The waste comes from the reprocessing of spent fuel from decommissioned German nuclear power plants, carried out at Sellafield in the UK and La Hague in France.
After vitrification, the waste is returned to Germany in stainless steel containers, heavily armored to guarantee safety. The Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) supervises this return, which is part of a repatriation agreement scheduled to run until 2025.
Development of nuclear waste disposal in Germany
Until 2011, reprocessed nuclear waste was temporarily stored at Gorleben in Lower Saxony, where 108 canisters of vitrified waste were stored. This facility played a crucial role in waste management before Germany decided to accelerate its nuclear phase-out following the Fukushima disaster.
Despite the closure of its last power plants in 2023, Germany is still obliged to repatriate waste from reprocessing abroad. The waste return process, often contested by protests, continues with a final shipment planned from the UK to complete the repatriation. At the same time, the country is looking for a permanent site to store its 27,000 cubic meters of radioactive waste.
Future challenges and permanent storage
Germany faces considerable challenges in identifying a suitable site for the permanent underground storage of its 27,000 cubic meters of nuclear waste. Finding a safe location is crucial to minimizing environmental risks and addressing social concerns. The process involves a rigorous assessment of geological, hydrological and seismic conditions to ensure long-term safety.
In addition, social acceptance is essential, as local communities often express reluctance to the installation of such sites close to their homes. The Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) is entrusted with this complex task, which requires transparency and dialogue with the public to overcome obstacles and ensure a sustainable solution.
