Is waste from new nuclear power plants included in the disposal capacity of Switzerland’s deep geological repository?


The Federal Council has indicated willingness to discuss a U-turn in Swiss energy policy. Should new nuclear power plants be constructed as a result of this, the disposal of radioactive waste would also be impacted.

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The Federal Council has responded to the “Stop the blackout” initiative and announced that it will draw up a counter-proposal to its current ban on new nuclear power plants by the end of the year. Energy Minister Albert Rösti announced this change of course to the media in Bern. The counter-proposal will include one aspect that is called for in the initiative: openness to technological development. This means that the construction of new nuclear power plants in Switzerland could be permitted again in the future.

This then raises the question: what would this mean for the disposal of radioactive waste? And what would this mean for the ongoing project of a deep geological repository?

Calculated reserves do not include new nuclear power plants

Nagra is currently working on the general licence application for a deep geological repository. It will be submitted to the federal authorities in November. The general licence secures the site for the deep geological repository, but also defines the framework for the disposal of radioactive waste in other respects.

Among other things, Nagra has calculated the maximum waste volume that could be disposed of in the repository. To this end, it refers to current legislation: Nagra’s calculations are based on a scenario in which the existing nuclear power plants remain in operation for 60 years. As the nuclear power plants can be operated as long as they are safe and technical modifications are possible, capacity reserves have been included. However, these reserves explicitly exclude new nuclear power plants. The construction of new nuclear power plants is currently prohibited by law. How new power plants could impact radioactive waste disposal is therefore not considered in the general licence application currently being prepared for submission. This question would have to be taken up again should future plans include new construction projects.

The Federal Council and then Parliament will decide on the general licence. Should this decision be put to a national referendum, the Swiss voters will have the final say on a deep geological repository.

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