Why is each country in Europe independently looking for a disposal site for high-level radioactive waste? This was the first question during the opening discussions in the dialogue series entitled “Having your say in the search for a disposal site” on Monday, 10 May 2021; this is hard for young Europeans to understand. The science journalist, Shary Reeves, posed this question to the two discussion partners: the Managing Director of BGE, the company responsible for selecting the site, Steffen Kanitz, and the Head of the Research Department at BASE, Jochen Ahlswede. “We have all three host rocks in Germany where a safe disposal site can be built. The chances that this kind of disposal facility will be built in Germany are high,” Steffen Kanitz responded. Jochen Ahlswede emphasised that each country producing hazardous nuclear waste is responsible for its own. But he also stressed that it is possible to learn from each other by sharing ideas beyond national borders. At the end of the meeting, several participants said that this was new, but important for them and something they wanted to take away with them from the meeting. The dialogue series is being jointly organised by BGE and BASE. Two other meetings will follow on 17 May and 31 May – the hands-on package on 17 May and a business game with young people on 31 May.

A great deal of interest was expressed in the solutions offered by European neighbours, whether Switzerland or Finland, at the opening meeting. At the start of the first meeting in the dialogue series – the information package – questions were also asked about the impact of earthquakes and the possibilities of retrieving the radioactive waste. Shary Reeves was determined to press ahead with the topic. Most of the young participants said the same at the end of the meeting. “Very exciting,“ she said.

Those participating in the three-hour digital event about radioactive waste and its origin were able to obtain information in seven workshops dealing with different topics. A representative of BGZ and one from BASE provided information about the current status, i.e. the question of where the high-level radioactive waste is currently located and how safe it is there until a disposal site has been found. BASE and BGE as well as the independent body accompanying the proceedings, the National Civic Society Board, informed the young people about the site selection procedure and their role in the search. A young scientist from BGE, supported by a counterpart from BASE, explained what can be read from BGE’s interactive maps and other sources of data. “It was great. I could have continued listening for much longer,” one student commented afterwards.

A young scientist from BGE and a representative of BASE explained the geology and the selection criteria for a disposal site to another group of young people. Jochen Ahlswede and one of his colleagues from BASE discussed the advantages and disadvantages of new nuclear reactor technologies with two groups of young people, as these systems promise to make the radioactive waste less hazardous. The keyword here is transmutation. BASE concluded that a solution to the disposal issue could not be expected in the foreseeable future through these technology promises – on the contrary, they also create new risks. “That was real quality – and explained so that everybody could understand,” said one student afterwards. An expert from BGE and one from BASE reported on the solutions being adopted by neighbouring countries and the international rules for dealing with high-level radioactive waste.

“We’ve managed to make a good start to dealing with the topic,” said Svenja Fassbinder. The young lady from Wunsiedel has been part of the working group preparing for the Sub-Areas Conference since February. The working group is currently preparing for the second discussion session (10 – 12 June 2021) for this first formal participation procedure in the search for a disposal site. She invited the young participants to come to the conference. Time has been reserved for the young generation and their wishes for participation on the opening evening (10 June). Svenja Fassbinder also invited the young people to make available their own expertise for the ancillary programme at the conference. She was impressed by one young student, who is writing her degree dissertation about “wicked problems”, i.e. complicated problems that are almost impossible to solve. “That would be something for the conference too,” she said.

The dialogue series entitled “Having your say in the search for a disposal site”, which is being jointly organised by BASE and BGE, is already continuing on Monday, 17 May 2021. The “hands-on package” is on the agenda then. Young people will also have the opportunity to register to speak at the Sub-Areas Conference – and formulate their wishes and demands for successful youth participation. You can still register at: veranstaltung@bge.de

You can find the programme and more information, including the background to the series of events, here.

The third part of the series of events will follow on May 31, 2021 - like all events in the series, starting at 5 pm. Then the BGE simulation game is on the agenda. The idea is to take on different roles in the discussion about final disposal, and in these roles to search for a solution to a tricky problem.

Note: All information events are held in German.