Ahaus interim storage facility: Storage of fuel elements from Garching research reactor approved

“The licence that has been granted certifies that we can store the containers safely and that the protection of people and the environment is guaranteed at all times,” explains Stefan Weber, Head of the Licensing Department of BGZ, Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung mbH. BGZ submitted comprehensive evidence of damage prevention measures, which were reviewed by BASE and independent experts in accordance with the current state of science and technology. “The positive outcome of the review shows that the storage of fuel elements at the Ahaus interim storage facility meets the high requirements of the German Atomic Energy Act,” says Weber.

“We are fulfilling our contractual obligations by storing the fuel elements from FRM II,” explains Dr. David Knollmann, press spokesman for the BGZ's north-west interim storage facilities. The storage of fuel elements from German research reactors at the Ahaus interim storage facility is the result of long-standing agreements. The city of Ahaus agreed to this back in 1993. On this basis, the then operator of the interim storage facility concluded contracts with the operators of German research reactors in 2000.

At the same time as the storage licence, BASE also granted a licence for the transport of initially two CASTOR casks from Garching to Ahaus. This had been applied for by a logistics company on behalf of FRM II. Before the transport can begin, the nuclear regulatory authorities of the federal states of North Rhine-Westphalia and Bavaria, as well as the police authorities involved, must give their approval. Finally, appeals can be filed against the permits, which would in principle have a suspensive effect. This means that storage of the CASTOR casks would not be possible for the time being due to ongoing legal proceedings.

Source: Translated from press release from BGZ, Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung mbH

Further information:

Press release from the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE)

The Research Neutron Source Heinz Maier-Leibnitz (FRM II) provides information about the transports here.

The Ahaus interim storage facility is intended for the storage of fuel elements from the research reactors in Garching near Munich, Berlin, and Mainz. Since 2005, 18 CASTOR casks with fuel elements from the Dresden-Rossendorf research reactor have been stored there. The BGZ provides information about the storage of research reactor fuel elements in Ahaus on a project website.

Before the first transport, BGZ will invite the public to a dialogue event in Ahaus. In addition, it has been communicating extensively and in a dialogue-oriented manner on this topic for years. Together, BGZ and FRM II have published a brochure on the disposal route for research reactor fuel elements [available in German only]. Among other things, it provides information on the use of fuel elements in FRM II, their transport to Ahaus, and their subsequent final storage.