Swissnuclear is a Swiss nuclear trade organization. Later this year, they will begin discussions with local Swiss communities and cantons on possible payment and compensation for hosting a deep geological repository for radioactive waste. Last September, Nördlich Lägern in northern Switzerland was suggested as a possible site for such a repository.
Swissnuclear said, “The aim of this discussion phase is to get to know the partners, to understand their needs and to prepare the negotiation phase. Among other things, it is also about how a sustainable generation-fair solution and a cooperative neighborhood can be designed.” Swissnuclear represent the operators of Swiss nuclear power plants who are responsible for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel. They also said that their member companies will “approach the talks in partnership and with an open mind”.
The trade organization remarked that the payments and compensation are voluntary payments by those responsible for spent nuclear fuel to locations of deep geological repositories and the associated fuel element packaging plant.
Swissnuclear said, “With payments and compensation, the contribution of the site region to the solution of a national task should be appreciated, the disposal of all radioactive waste in Switzerland, both from the operation of the nuclear power plants and from medicine, industry and research.”
The discussion phase will be followed by a negotiation phase with the goal of a mutually-accepted contractual arrangement. Swissnuclear noted that this phase can only take effect once the general licenses for the spent nuclear fuel disposal facilities have become legally binding. This is not expected to happen before 2029 at the earliest.
Swissnuclear said, “With payments and compensation, the contribution of the site region to the solution of a national task should be appreciated, the disposal of all radioactive waste in Switzerland, both from the operation of the nuclear power plants and from medicine, industry and research.”
The organization has appointed former diplomat Christian Schoenenberger to be its representative in the discussions. They said, “Swissnuclear is convinced that Christian Schoenenberger can contribute to a good understanding of the positions of the parties involved in the run-up to the negotiations. As the discussion leader for the operators responsible for waste disposal, he will constructively contribute his many years of diplomatic experience for all parties.”
In September of 2022, following a fourteen-year site selection process, Nagra proposed Nördlich Lägern in northern Switzerland as a site of any deep geological repository. In addition, a spent fuel encapsulation plant will be constructed at the existing Zwilag interim storage facility in Würenlingen in the can¬ton of Aar¬gau. The surface entrance to the geological repository will be constructed in the Haberstal area in the community of Stadel in the canton Zürich.
Nagra is preparing the general license applications for the repository and the encapsulation plant. It expects to submit the applications to the Federal Council in 2024. The Swiss authorities and the federal government will review these applications before the Federal Council and parliament make their decisions. This approval will be subject to an operational referendum. Swiss voters will have the final say. Nagra said it is likely to be another thirty years of so before it can start spent nuclear fuel emplacement operations.