Bitter reality: dismantling the Lubmin nuclear power plant will take until 2040!

Bitter reality: dismantling the Lubmin nuclear power plant will take until 2040!

The dismantling of the Lubmin nuclear power plant, which was in operation from 1973 to 1990 and covered 11% of the GDR's electricity needs, is becoming the subject of heated discussions. The original plan to complete the dismantling by 2028 has now become a long way off. Recent reports show that completion is now not expected until the 2040s, dwarfing the prediction of project officials. Nordkurier emphasizes that the dismantling could take more than three decades - i.e. longer than the power plant was actually in operation.

One reason for the delays is unexpectedly high radiation levels in certain areas of the plant. Special Building 1 in particular contains significantly more radioactive contamination than initially assumed. In order to avert this danger, heavily contaminated concrete must be removed under extreme safety standards. This not only requires technical know-how, but also influences the statics of the buildings. Therefore, careful planning is necessary to avoid unwanted incidents. The dismantling costs have skyrocketed from previous estimates of 6.6 billion euros to now 10 billion euros.

Financial questions and provisions

The dismantling will be financed largely through tax revenue. According to the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control (BAFA), operators of nuclear power plants must submit an annual overview of the provisions to cover these costs. BAFA pursues the goal of keeping the financial aspects and obligations transparent. Due to the reduction in the annual federal funding, financing the dismantling is encountering additional difficulties.

The dimensions of the dismantling should not be underestimated: According to experts, around 440,000 square meters of concrete surface, which corresponds to around 62 football fields, have to be examined for radioactive residues. It is estimated that the mass to be mined is around 1.8 million tonnes, which represents an enormous logistical challenge. The materials have to be dismantled so that they fit into special boxes so that they can be measured in an appropriate system.

The path to the nuclear phase-out

Despite the challenges, the nuclear phase-out remains firmly on track. Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has confirmed the federal government's intentions to finally shut down the last nuclear power plants in Germany. The remaining three blocks are scheduled to go offline at the end of 2023, ushering in a new era for energy supply. Mario Schmidt, a 59-year-old employee of the Lubmin power plant, has been involved in the dismantling since 1979 and sees the need to address the problems and ensure that this still controversial technology becomes a thing of the past. According to heise.de, 36 reactor blocks in Germany are affected by dismantling, with the challenges varying greatly from block to block.

The discussion about the dismantling of the Lubmin nuclear power plant raises important questions about safety and responsibility, while time is running out and costs are exploding. Having a good hand in this sensitive area could be crucial to how Germany can one day leave its nuclear legacy behind.