Press releases

On behalf of the federal government, the BGE is responsible for the permanent storage of radioactive waste deep underground. Find out more about its structure, organization, tasks and projects here.

Supervisory Board

BGE mission statement

International collaboration

Here you can find all of the BGE’s press releases regarding its projects.

Announcements and press releases

Radioactive waste

Radioactive waste

In Germany, radioactive waste is to be stored in repositories deep below the earth’s surface. These pages set out where radioactive waste arises, as well as what quantities and types exist.

Background information

Current inventory

Product control

Repository search

The selection of a repository site for high-level radioactive waste in Germany is being carried out as a science-based, transparent and learning process. There are three eligible types of host rock.

Representative preliminary safety analyses

Planning-scientific weighing criteria

Sub-areas interim report

Deep underground, the Asse II mine stores 47,000 cubic metres of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste. This is not a safe place for the waste to be. It should be retrieved, and the mine should then be decommissioned in accordance with the BGE’s legal mandate. Here, we provide an overview.

Short information

History of the Asse II mine

Radioactive waste in the Asse II mine

Asse II mine info centre and public tours

Main topic: 3D seismic survey

Main topic: Salt water in the Asse mine

At the Konrad mine in Salzgitter, Lower Saxony, work is currently underway on building Germany’s first repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste to be licensed under nuclear law.

Short information

History of the Konrad repository

Radioactive waste for the Konrad repository

Licensing of the Konrad repository

Actors and tasks

Info centre and tours

Main topic: Evaluation of the safety requirements for the Konrad repository

Main topic: The Konrad repository – a multigenerational project

The Morsleben repository is the first German repository that is to be decommissioned in accordance with nuclear law and with the low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste left in place.

Short information

History of the Morsleben repository

Radioactive waste in the Morsleben repository

Decommissioning of the Morsleben repository

Actors and tasks

Info Morsleben and public tours

The Gorleben mine

The BGE has been mandated to close the Gorleben mine. This page provides information on the Gorleben project.

Second Forum Endlagersuche held in Halle

The Forum Endlagersuche is the central forum for discussion on the selection of sites for the repository for high-level radioactive waste in Germany. On 17. and On 18 November, two themes are in focus.

Das Bild zeigt den Bohrplatz zur Erkundungsbohrung Remlingen 18. In der Mitte des Bildes befindet sich ein orangefarbener Bohrturm, umgeben von mehreren blauen Containern. Diese stehen, inmitten eines grünen Waldes, auf einer flach asphaltierten Fläche. Im Hintergrund ist blauer Himmel.

Drilling work begins on Remlingen 18 exploratory borehole

A new shaft has to be built to recover the radioactive waste. The drilling serves to confirm the suitability of the site and to lay the foundation for planning.

The salt heap in Gorleben

First step towards closing the Gorleben mine

BGE awards contract for renaturation of salt heap and backfilling of mine cavities.

Iris Graffunder und Marlis Koop werden neue Geschäftsführerinnen der Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH

BGE Management Board completed with two experienced experts

Iris Graffunder and Marlis Koop become new managing directors of the Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (BGE).

Luftbild der Schachtanlage Konrad 1

Completion of Konrad repository delayed

The Konrad repository is on the home straight, but there are still a number of hurdles to overcome.

Map that shows the reasearch region

“GeoMetEr” research project: BGE designates second research region

Plans for 2D seismic survey and measurements from the air.

New exploratory borehole in the Asse mine

Emplacement chamber 12 to be investigated from May onwards

Eine grüne Wiese, am Horizont sind ein paar Bäume zu sehen

BGE publishes geotechnical report for the Asse mine

The Kuhlager site is fundamentally suitable

Foto eines winterlichen Sonnenaufgangs, fotografiert durch die Speichen eines großen Metallrads.

BGE presents a report on the development of a concept for characterising waste from the Asse mine

The BGE is publishing the final report on the “Development of a concept for characterising the radioactive waste to be retrieved from the Asse II mine”.

“GeoMetEr” research project begins

The research project is being launched in mid-March 2023 in collaboration with a project group led by the Freiberg University of Mining and Technology.