Radioactive waste management in the Federal Republic of Germany

In the Federal Republic of Germany radioactive waste originates from: a uranium enrichment, fuel fabrication and the operation of light water reactors (PWR, BWR) and reactors of advanced design (HTR, FBR); domestic spent fuel reprocessing and reprocessing abroad and the conditioning of non-reprocessed spent fuel elements as a future supplementary option; the dismantling of nuclear facilities; research and development institutions, medical applications of radioisotopes and other minor waste producers. Approximately 40.000 m3 of conditioned radioactive waste have been stored in the Federal Republic until 1987; the predicted accumulated waste package volume will amount to some 200,000 m3 by the year 2000. Radioactive waste management covers different process steps, e.g. conditioning, interim storage and final disposal in deep geological strata. This paper describes the capacities of the back end fuel cycle facilities which are currently operating under construction or at an advanced stage in the licensing procedure in Germany