Socio-economic assessment of the Cigeo project

This report first presents the method used of the socio-economic assessment of the Cigeo project: approach and principle, peculiarities of the cost-benefit analysis, indicators, peculiarities and limitations of the cost-benefit analysis of the global Cigeo project. It presents the context and national strategy: origin of the production of radioactive wastes, French context of radioactive waste management, case of high-activity and medium-activity-low level wastes, choice of the Cigeo project, overview of the international approach to radioactive waste management. It presents reference scenarios and model parameters. It reports a comparison of project options: studied modalities of radioactive waste management, studied options (Cigeo as foreseen, Cigeo realisation and researches for high-activity wastes, Cigeo realisation and researches for high-activity and medium-activity/low-level wastes, investments on these researches without development of the Cigeo storage centre). The next parts report the detailed assessment of costs associated with the different options, the assessment of benefits and avoided risks associated with the different options. Results of the socio-economic assessment, perspectives and recommendations are then discussed. Several appendices present radioactive waste management practices in different countries (Germany, Belgium, Canada, China, Spain, USA, Finland, Japan, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland). Other appendices present more detailed information about costs. Other reports are provided: opinion of economic experts on this assessment, independent counter-expertise report and opinion about this counter-expertise