Safe interim storage

The concept of interim storage in Germany is founded upon a national strategy for the safe and responsible disposal of radioactive waste, namely the national disposal programme. The responsibility for interim storage lies with state actors, who perform a variety of tasks throughout the process. With regard to interim storage, BASE is responsible for licensing the storage and transport of nuclear fuels. The German interim storage facilities primarily accommodate irradiated nuclear fuel from nuclear power plants and research reactors, in addition to high-level radioactive waste from reprocessing. To safeguard people and the environment, the high-level radioactive waste is encased in solid transport and storage containers. BASE is also tasked with approving these containers.