Main topics in relation to the Konrad repository

Construction of the Konrad repository has reached an advanced stage. Preparing the Konrad 2 emplacement shaft is a vital step towards the site’s completion. In a reassessment of outstanding building work, the BGE has reached the conclusion that, as of summer 2023, work on Shaft 2 is running about two years behind schedule.

Twenty years ago, the State of Lower Saxony issued a licence for the construction of the Konrad repository. This decision was not without controversy and triggered some objections in the region. However, the licence could only be issued because the applicant had demonstrated that safety was assured not only during but also after the facility’s operation. But what does the planning approval decision – that is, the license for the Konrad repository – regulate and why is the Konrad repository so important?

As a responsible operator, the BGE is voluntarily conducting an evaluation of the safety requirements for the Konrad repository according to the state of the art of science and technology (ÜsiKo). Here, it presents the results.