In the DABKO research project, the Institute of Numerical Methods and Informatics in Civil Engineering (IIB) is developing innovative processes for dismantling nuclear power plants together with partners from TU Darmstadt and the industry. Some of the waste has to be packed into containers for final disposal. A very small amount of waste, termed high-level radioactive waste, poses special requirements for safe final disposal.

While Germany does not yet have a site for such a repository for high-level radioactive waste, a site for the future repository has already been selected in France. The French authority for the management of radioactive waste (ANDRA) operates an underground laboratory for researching the local geological conditions near the village of Bure in the immediate vicinity of the planned repository Cigéo.

The IIB had the opportunity to visit the underground laboratory at a depth of 500 metres together with the DABKO project partners. In a neighbouring exhibition space, technical facilities and the logistics of the planned storage and retrievability were presented.

The IIB is grateful to ANDRA for the exciting insights!