Why retrieval can start earlier
The most recent edition of "Insights into the Asse Mine" explains the essential steps of the project plan
The chart in the most recent edition of "Insights into the Asse Mine" illustrates the relationships between the individual partial projects of retrieval
Start of retrieval: 2036. That was the result of the first intermediary report on the project plan which was presented by the Arcadis consulting and planning company in May 2012 on behalf of the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). The intermediary report was based on the experiences gained so far and the boundary conditions of the Asse II mine known at that time. Taking into account the precarious condition of the mine, which is more than one hundred years old, this result was not acceptable to the BfS.
Discussion on how to speed-up the start of retrieval
An intensive discussion followed with the objective to speed-up the start of retrieval. In September 2012, an expert workshop with more than 100 participants took place. Parallel to this, all political parties in the German Bundestag developed the "Law on Advancing the Retrieval of Radioactive Waste and the Decommissioning of the Asse II Mine" (Lex Asse), which became effective in April 2013 (cf. Insights into the Asse Mine vol. 20). The law provides legal certainty for speeding up the preparation for retrieval promptly – as opposed to in subordinate ranking to the emergency measures.
Updating of project plan
Arcadis GmbH now submitted a new interim report on the project plan according to which retrieval can start three years earlier. In particular the proposals made by the expert workshop as to how to speed-up the project and the new boundary conditions based on Lex Asse have been taken into account in the most recent report. Possible advancing effects resulting from individual partial projects have not been taken into account. Therefore the project plan is continuously being updated. Changing boundary conditions and additional speeding-up potential will be analysed and taken into account further.
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Asse Einblicke 21 (in German only)