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Rheinsberg: Dismantling the first GDR nuclear power plant will take decades!
Brandenburg's first nuclear power plant in Rheinsberg: dismantling is taking longer than planned, safety measures and cost overview.
Rheinsberg: Dismantling the first GDR nuclear power plant will take decades!
In Rheinsberg, between Nehmitzsee and Große Stechlinsee in the heart of Ostprignitz-Ruppin, is the GDR's first nuclear power plant, which has been under dismantling for 30 years now. The Rheinsberg nuclear power plant was put into operation in 1966, but could no longer be operated in 1990 after 24 years of operation due to safety concerns.
The dismantling, which began in 1995, was originally scheduled to be completed in 2014, but this plan was repeatedly thwarted by various circumstances. Inaccurate construction plans and cuts during the pandemic significantly delayed the process. Loud Wikipedia The dismantling costs incurred have increased from the original 600 million euros to 1.5 billion euros.
The challenges of dismantling
The dismantling of the power plant includes more than 300 rooms and 70,000 tons of concrete. Around 25,000 wipe tests are carried out every year to detect contamination. The remaining 130 employees working on this complex project each experience 0.9 millisieverts of radiation per year - a significant decrease compared to the approximately 650 employees who once worked there. The reactor itself was transported to the interim storage facility in Lubmin in 2007, and the radioactive materials are also being brought there.
The Brandenburg Ministry of the Environment has, among other things, additionally influenced the dismantling process through orders. A lawsuit from the waste disposal company has also contributed to the delay in the past. While dismantling work progresses, the forecast for completion by the mid-2040s remains uncertain.
Legal framework and financing
Another important aspect of dismantling is the legal framework. Operators of nuclear power plants must comply with this Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA) regularly present an overview of the provisions for decommissioning, dismantling and packaging of radioactive waste. The transparency in this regard was strengthened by the Transparency Act 2017. The operators are responsible for the costs of decommissioning and dismantling, while the federal government is responsible for carrying out and financing the interim and final storage.
In this way, operators are obliged to make provisions totaling 24.1 billion euros for the disposal of radioactive waste. This cooperation between the government and operators is intended to ensure that the financial resources are available to successfully manage the dismantling and to minimize any health risks for the population as best as possible.
Today, October 26, 2025, it becomes clear how seriously the challenges of dismantling must be taken in order to protect residents from the harmful effects of the past use of the nuclear power plant and at the same time ensure transparency in financial planning.