Start of drilling into first chamber on 1 June 2012
On his first visit to the Asse mine, the Federal Environment Minister, Peter Altmaier, started the drilling process with the help of which emplacement chamber 7 will be explored. Together with the Lower Saxon Environment Minister, Stefan Birkner, and the district administrator of Wolfenbüttel, Jörg Röhmann, Altmaier pressed the red start button. The drilling team then commissioned the drilling rig. In order for the drilling operation to be started, the prescribed acceptance had to take place. The last acceptance took place in the afternoon of 31 May 2012.
Previously Federal Environment Minister Altmaier had had a look at and had got in-depth information about the working area in front of emplacement chamber 7 where the technical equipment for the trial phase is set up. Since the start of drilling the working area has been closed to visitors. Only staff working in this area have got access.
All works have made good progress since the start of drilling. So far the drill has worked seven metres through the structure chamber 7 in a depth of 750 metres has been sealed with.
In order to provide visitors with information about the Asse mine, the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) has established a video system. Live footage transmitted from the barred chamber can be watched on a screen outside the working area.
To ensure personal rights of the staff, the camera needs to be unlocked by the staff in the working area prior to a transmission.