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Facts & figures

Current transport licences and transport operations

The Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) issues licences for the transport of nuclear fuels and large sources. However, with less than 500 transports per year, these represent only a small proportion of the total number of transports of radioactive material. Most of the transports involve radioactive materials used for measuring, research and medical purposes, which are not licensed by BASE.

Facts & figures

Transport licences issued by BASE may be valid for single or multiple transports, and are generally limited in time. The longest possible period of validity is three years. It is not obligatory for the holder of a licence to use it.

Current transport licences

On the role of BASE in nuclear fuel imports/exports from and to Russia:

Transports of nuclear fuel and large sources to and from Russia are not part of the European Union's sanctions package. They therefore currently require an import or export licence from the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA). In addition to the import and export licence, a permit is required for transport on German territory, which is reviewed by BASE. Without an extension of the sanctions, BASE, as the licensing authority, has no legal recourse against transports on German territory and for the cancellation of licences already granted.

The currently licensed and large source transports are shown in the table below (PDF). It lists the licences issued by BASE and the date on which each transport was carried out.

At the request of the Federal Environment Ministry, this list does not include any licences that have not already been used for at least one transport for safety reasons.

List of current transport licences (in German):

Gültige Beförderungsgenehmigungen nach § 4 Atomgesetz bzw. §§ 27 und 29 StrlSchG (PDF, 499KB, File meet accessibility standards)

Please note: Due to the large amount of information, the PDF is in A3 format. The 'fit to page' option should be activated in the print dialogue for printing on DIN A4.

Wegweiser nach links und nach rechts

Facts and figures

The following tables and diagrams provide an overview of the number of transports carried out in recent years with the licences issued by BASE.

Transport licences granted and transports carried out 2013–2023

The following survey shows

  • how many licenses were granted by BASE between 2013 and 2023 and
  • how many transports of and large sources were carried out on the basis of these licenses.
Yearnuclear fuellarge sources

licenses 

granted

transports 

carried out

licenses 

granted

transports 

carried out

2023443691011
20223939131
202137402119
2020493621517
201943452810
2018714661013
2017634361419
2016923962115
2015694051111
201410941076
20131004231110

Nuclear fuel transports carried out 2003–2023, by transport destination

The graphic shows the transports of the past years broken down by

  • national transports only,
  • export transports,
  • import transports and
  • transit transports.
Grafik, auf der die Anzahl der Kernbrennstofftransporte im Zeitraum 2003 bis 2023 dargestellt wird
© BASE

The following graphic shows the shares of transport destinations in 2003, 2013 and 2023.

Drei Tortendiagramme mit den Transportzielen der Kernbrennstofftransporte in den Jahren 2003, 2013 und 2023
© BASE

Nuclear fuel transports carried out in 2023, by mode of transport

In 2023, nuclear fuel was transported exclusively by road.

In addition, sea and rail transport of nuclear fuel has also taken place in recent years. But they hardly play a role in Germany anymore.

Transport modeNumber of transports
Road369
Inland waterway0
Sea0
Sea + rail0
Sea + road0
Rail0
Rail + road0
Rail + road + sea0
Air0
Air + road0
Air + road + sea0
Total369

Stand: 2024.12.17