Stichting Laka

Publicatie Laka-bibliotheek:
Rock Solid? (2025)

Auteur	Dr Helen Wallace
	6-01-5-51-97.pdf
Datum	november 2025
Classificatie	6.01.5.51/97 (AFVAL - OPSLAG OP LAND (oa ZOUT/KLEI))
Voorkant

1. Introduction

This report examines the current state of scientific evidence regarding the 
geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel and other high-level and long-lived 
radioactive wastes in a deep geological repository (DGR) around 500m underground.

No country has yet completed an operational deep geological repository for 
high-level radioactive wastes resulting from nuclear electricity generation, 
despite policy commitments adopted in the 1970s.

In 2008, the Radioactive Waste Management Committee (RWMC) of the 
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Nuclear 
Energy Agency (NEA) (1) concluded that “geological disposal is technically 
feasible” and that a “geological disposal system provides a unique level and 
duration of protection for high activity, long-lived radioactive waste”. In 2011, 
the European Union (EU) adopted a nuclear waste directive which endorses deep 
geological disposal.  (2)

However, analysis of the existing scientific evidence shows there are many 
difficulties with the claim that there is a consensus in favour of deep geological 
disposal. This report is based on a literature review of research on deep disposal 
published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. It provides an overview of the status 
of research and scientific evidence regarding the long-term underground storage of 
highly radioactive wastes, and asks whether this evidence supports the view that 
such wastes can be disposed of safely underground. This report is an update of 
an earlier report, published in 2010. (3) It finds that significant scientific 
uncertainties remain and it accordingly questions whether strong conclusions 
in favour of deep geological disposal can be drawn until all the relevant issues 
have been addressed.