When I tell my work colleagues that I was involved in major projects in my previous jobs, at best, I will get a laugh out of them. For example, I have modelled entire dams for hydropower projects. These were big projects and required investing two to three years of studies. And yet, what are three measly years compared to our project of the century?
Not every engineer would want to get involved in a project where they would have to wait ten years before the start of the initial construction phase. For me, however, changing jobs five years ago to work for Nagra was exactly the right decision, because I had already been involved in a number of construction projects worldwide and had gained extensive experience. Here at Nagra, the topics are much broader and more in-depth – literally.
My job is to coordinate the planning. I have to organise experts, get things up and running, manage and lead the project. The deep geological repository will be constructed and operated over a period of 100 years and must subsequently function reliably and safely for one million years – to ensure this, we are taking a correspondingly thorough approach. I really enjoy that.
Jürgen Brommundt
is Deputy Head of Planning and Realisation at Nagra. Born and raised in Braunschweig, Germany, he chose to study civil engineering at the University of Stuttgart. With its relative proximity to the Alps, it was easier to indulge in his favourite hobby, skiing, a passion he is happy to pass on to his two children. Jürgen Brommundt is married and lives with his family in Wettingen.
A lot of work, but also peace of mind
It will be exciting to implement what we have planned. Again, you might wonder: what does an engineer at Nagra put into practice today? The fact is: announcing the siting proposal in 2022 was a kind of test for our team. This was followed by a real highlight: the general licence applications. We contributed nine documents to the general licence applications alone, wrote numerous reference reports and also provided a great deal of support on the side. We could reap the rewards of years of work and create a coherent overall picture. A high workload always comes with a certain amount of pressure. Earlier, that would probably have made me nervous, but I am calmer now. I know that it will be stressful, but I also know that my team and I can handle it.
What fascinates me is dealing with what we don’t know or don’t yet know. We cannot and do not yet know exactly where to place each and every tunnel. We have to break the project down into many small parts and steps. This allows us to make partial decisions without losing sight of the big picture. One thing will lead to another, and every decision will take us closer to our goal, the deep geological repository.
«You have to start somewhere, or you will never finish»
We have to live with the fact that we will probably never be seen as the good guys – after all, we dispose of radioactive waste. However, what we do is important and meaningful. That is the decisive factor for me.
We must also bear in mind that we are constructing a one of a kind, not some prototype. Few people are specialised in the planning and construction of deep geological repositories. This is why the exchange with colleagues from international waste management organisations is important. Ultimately, however, we at Nagra will have to make our own decisions and stand by them in case our proposals are met with professional and public criticism. For this, we will need courageous women and men who can lead the way. I am happy to say that at Nagra, we have them. They have my greatest respect. You have to start somewhere, or you will never finish – by the time I retire in 2041, I want to have stood in the test area of the deep geological repository.
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