The role of interim storage facilities in the nuclear waste management policy of Germany

The article discusses the role of interim storage of spent fuel elements in the current nuclear waste management policy in Germany, and possible demand for additional interim storage facilities in the future, as a consequence of the shift in the radioactive waste disposal concept and the nuclear power opt-out policy of the Federal Government. Success or failure of the consensus on the nuclear power phase-out strategy, agreed between the Federal Government and the nuclear power industry on 14 June 2000, hinges not only but essentially on the availability of sufficient interim storage facilities for spent fuel elements accrued over the negotiated remaining operating periods of nuclear power plants. The NPP operators say the present radioactive waste management concept has to be put on a different basis and needs amending in response to the change in energy policy. For the electric utilities, the crucial test is whether the Federal Government will be able to fulfill their promise made during the consensus negotiations, namely that there will be no premature shutdowns of nuclear power plants because of a bottleneck in spent fuel storage capacity. (orig./CB)