Nagra rules out constructing a second deep geological repository

Nagra adheres to current legislation

In order to create transparency with regard to this issue, Nagra has published the web article “Is waste from new nuclear power plants included in the disposal capacity of Switzerland’s deep geological repository?”. In this article, Nagra emphasises that the general licence application to be submitted in November for the deep geological repository in Nördlich Lägern only takes into account waste from the existing nuclear power plants. Nagra has also made this position clear in response to media enquiries.

This led to the conclusion in media reports that a second repository would be needed if new nuclear power plants were to be operated. Reports further claimed that Nagra was bringing a second deep geological repository into play. Nagra has not made any such assumptions or statements.

While the geological underground of the Nördlich Lägern siting region is indeed large enough to accommodate a greater volume of waste, Nagra continues to adhere to current legislation and is therefore applying for a repository to dispose of waste produced by the existing nuclear power plants.

The fact that, in principle, the geological underground investigated in great detail in the three siting regions – Jura Ost, Nördlich Lägern and Zürich Nordost – has disposal capacity to spare, is nothing new. Nagra has communicated this repeatedly in recent years, for example at general assemblies of the regional conferences or in several publications.