Bitter reality: Dismantling of the Lubmin nuclear power plant lasts until 2040!

Bitter reality: Dismantling of the Lubmin nuclear power plant lasts until 2040!

The dismantling of the Lubmin nuclear power plant, which was in operation from 1973 to 1990 and covered 11% of the GDR electricity requirements, becomes the subject of hot discussions. The original plan to complete the dismantling by 2028 has now moved far away. Current reports show that the completion is now only expected in the 2040s, which is what the prediction of project managers in the shade. [Nordkurier] (https://www.nordkurier.de/regional/greifswald/boese-uberraschung-ddr-atom power plant-in-lubmin-wach- more-radiation-alsher-bisher-3711850) emphasizes that the dismantling could take longer-i.e. longer than the power plant was actually in operation.

A reason for the delays are unexpectedly high radiation values ​​in certain areas of the work. The special building 1 in particular contains significantly more radioactive contamination than initially assumed. In order to ban this danger, heavily contaminated concrete must be removed under extreme security standards. This not only requires technical know-how, but also influences the statics of the buildings. Therefore, careful planning is required to avoid unwanted incidents. The dismantling costs have been skyrocketed from earlier estimates from 6.6 billion euros to now 10 billion euros.

Financial questions and provisions

The dismantling is largely financed by tax funds. According to the Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA), the operators of nuclear power plants have to provide an overview of the provisions to cover these costs annually. [Bafa] (https://www.bafa.de/de/wandwerk_ industrie/rueckbau_ruecktungen_kernkraftwerke/rueckbau_rueckbunstungen_kernkraftwerke_node.html) thus pursues the goal of keeping the financial aspects and obligations transparent. By cutting the federal funds provided annually, the financing of the dismantling meets additional difficulties.

The dimensions of the dismantling are not to be underestimated: According to experts, around 440,000 square meters of concrete surface, which corresponds to about 62 soccer fields, must be examined for radioactive residues. It is estimated that the degrading mass amounts to around 1.8 million tons, which is an enormous logistical challenge. The materials must be broken down in such a way that they fit into special boxes in order to be able to measure them in a corresponding system.

The way to the nuclear phase -out

Despite the challenges, the nuclear phase -out remains firm. Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has confirmed the Federal Government's intentions to finally shut down the last nuclear power plants in Germany. At the end of 2023, the remaining three blocks are to leave, which initiates a new era for energy supply. Mario Schmidt, a 59-year-old employee of the power plant in Lubmin, has been involved in dismantling since 1979 and sees the need to tackle the problems and to ensure that it is still a controversial technology of the past. According to [Heise.de] (https://www.heise.de/news/das-lange-kernkraft-nachpfiel- many---- Kontamination-7273424.html), 36 reactor blocks in Germany are affected by the dismantling, whereby the challenges of block to block are very different.

The discussion about the dismantling of the Lubmin nuclear power plant raises important questions about security and responsibility while time is urging and the costs explode. Having a good hand in this sensitive area could be crucial for how Germany can one day leave its atomic heritage behind.