Asse influent saline solutions are used for special type of concrete

With immediate effect, the influent saline solutions stored on the premises of the Asse II mine can be used for the mixing of special concrete. In a depth of 750 m a building material facility is ready for use with which 200 cubic metres of concrete will be produced per day.

With this concrete the cavities at the very bottom of the mine are to be backfilled. No radioactive waste is emplaced in this area. The concrete is used to enhance the overall stabilisation of the mine. Since last year, the saline solutions have been intermediately stored in underground reservoirs and in containers above ground. The solutions used are saline solutions which must not be delivered to the Mariaglück mine in the rural district of Celle. On account of the volume of the intermediately stored influent saline solutions having increased to 2,000 cubic metres since mid 2008, it will take some weeks until all containers have been emptied. In the scope of a test BfS has already successfully tested since March the production of the special type of concrete through adding influent saline solutions. All licences required for the use of the saline solutions have now been granted.

12,000 litres of saline solutions daily enter the Asse mine the major part of which is pumped out of the mine and taken to the Mariaglück mine. BfS emphasises that it is not intended to backfill any of the chambers where radioactive waste is stored with concrete. Neither are any of the decommissioning options being investigated restricted through the works started now.