Germany’s Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) has authorized the transport of nuclear waste from Jülich, North Rhine-Westphalia, to the interim storage facility in Ahaus, Münsterland. The approval, announced Monday, covers the movement of 152 containers.
These containers hold approximately 300,000 fuel element pellets originating from the former experimental reactor in Jülich. The transport permit is valid until August 31, 2027 and has been issued with immediate effect, meaning that any legal challenges to the decision will not suspend its implementation. Specific transport dates will be coordinated with relevant supervisory and police authorities.
The Jülich facility required emptying as its operator was unable to provide the necessary safety documentation. An interim storage permit for the Jülich reactor’s inventory has been in place for Ahaus since 2016. Following a dismissal of a legal challenge against this permit by the Higher Administrative Court of North Rhine-Westphalia, the transfer of the fuel elements to Ahaus now represents the only viable path for secure waste storage.
