Government must move on geological nuclear storage, says CoRWM chair

CoRWM makes recommendations to the government on the safe disposal of radioactive waste. It has recommended that geological storage, which could keep waste safe for 100,000 years, is the best solution.

"The recommendations of CoRWM were accepted for legacy waste and active nuclear facilities, but the Committee recommendation was for this waste only. For waste from new nuclear builds, a new safety case and a new evaluation has to take place."

According to Professor Pickard, building an effective geological storage site could take up to 120 years, with 10 years to find a suitable site.
Pickard says that although the government has accepted the case for geological storage, it must still press ahead with finding suitable sites because interim sites may only be good for the coming 100 years.

The government last week decided not to reprocess waste for new nuclear plants, and Pickard acknowledges that new plants will be more efficient than older plants, and produce less waste. "But even with reprocessing, sooner-or-later you end up with waste that cannot be re-used as fuel."

Pickard also believes that communities who may volunteer their area for the storage of existing waste may not be so keen on future waste.

"For waste, the government has said it will invite volunteer communities to bid for sites. But for geological sites, not interim sites. If the government presses ahead in producing new waste, communities willing to have existing waste may be put-off if the door is left open for 100 years."

The final geological site will be a "large sum" according to Pickard, but "The final facility planned will depend on the geology of the community, and there may be some discussion on a second facility.

"Plans for long-term interim storage need to be underway at the same time. It is a mistake to think that the problem is solved," he said.

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