Germany's Gorleben nuclear waste site faces 20-year licence extension amid safety debates

Germany’s interim nuclear waste storage facility in Gorleben will need to operate far longer than originally planned. The federally owned Nuclear Waste Management Company (BGZ) has applied to extend its licence by 20 years, pushing its closure beyond the current 2034 deadline. The current licence for the Gorleben site expires in 2034 after 40 years of service. BGZ argues the extension is necessary for safety, citing mandatory reviews every ten years. The facility now holds 113 CASTOR casks with high-level radioactive waste, including spent fuel rods and reprocessing residues.

The above-ground storage hall has thinner walls and ceilings than newer sites. Its walls measure just 50 centimetres thick, with a 20-centimetre roof slab. The Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management will oversee the approval process for the extension.

Critics, including the Citizens’ Initiative for Environmental Protection Lüneburg-Dannenberg, have raised concerns. They question the long-term security measures and the structural integrity of the ageing facility. Meanwhile, the search for a permanent repository continues, with no solution expected by the legal target of 2031. The licence extension would allow Gorleben to remain operational until at least 2054. The decision now rests with regulators, who must weigh safety assurances against structural and security concerns. The delay in finding a permanent repository adds further pressure to extend interim storage.