Future of nuclear waste storage facilities: Where in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia?

Future of nuclear waste storage facilities: Where in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia?

In Germany, the search for a suitable nuclear waste repository is becoming increasingly urgent. Current studies have shown that only around 25 percent of Germany's area is suitable for the final storage of nuclear waste. This particularly affects regions in northern Germany as well as in Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Saxony, Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. The Federal Society for Final Storage (BGE) has analyzed geological data and has already excluded numerous areas that do not prove to be suitable locations.

Particularly in the north, numerous areas have not yet been assessed but are considered potential locations. Meanwhile, areas in southern Germany are also receiving attention. The majority of the area in Thuringia, such as the districts of Sömmerda, Gotha, Kyffhäuser and Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis, continues to be examined. The BGE focuses on conditions such as rock salt, clay rock or granite in the subsoil, with thicker rock layers being preferred. Volcanic activity and earthquake risks are also crucial factors when choosing a location.

Potential locations on the list

The geological conditions for final storage look promising. But in southern Thuringia, large areas have already been excluded. In Saxony, parts of the districts of Bautzen, Central Saxony, Saxon Switzerland-Eastern Ore Mountains and Erzgebirge appear to be on the shortlist. The northern regions of Saxony-Anhalt are also relevant. In mid-2026, the BGE will present an interim report in which it will re-evaluate known locations.

The goal is clear: a storage facility for around 27,000 cubic meters of highly radioactive nuclear waste should be found by 2050 at the latest. This waste comes from over 60 years of German nuclear power. The Bundestag will ultimately make the final decision on the regions proposed for above-ground exploration, which should happen by the end of 2027. German nuclear waste is currently stored in sixteen above-ground interim storage facilities in various federal states since the last German nuclear power plants were shut down in April 2023.

Legislation and speed of procedures

Federal Environment Minister Carsten Schneider has spoken out in favor of speeding up the final storage process. A draft law to optimize the selection of locations is to be presented at the beginning of next year. BGE chairwoman Iris Graffunder emphasizes that Germany has good geological conditions for final storage. The aim of the chosen path is to ensure that security is guaranteed for a million years.

The developments in the area of ​​the search for a final repository are not only important for science, but also for the social discussion about the future of nuclear power and the responsible disposal of nuclear waste. The public is closely involved in the process to create transparency and acceptance. It remains to be seen which regions will ultimately be selected as the location for final storage, as time is of the essence and the voices for a quick solution are becoming louder.