IAEA Technical Meeting on International Experiences in HLW Site Selection Procedures – Vienna, 9 November 2025
Participants of the IAEA technical meeting on HLW site‑selection procedures, Vienna, 9 November 2025 – including BGE TEC representative A. Lommerzheim.
After establishing political and regulatory boundary conditions, the initiation of a site selection procedure for a deep geological repository (DGR) typically constitutes the next major step in a national disposal plan. At the request of numerous member states of the IAEA, international experiences with such selection procedures are being compiled in a technical report.
As part of a consortium of countries with advanced DGR programmes, BGE TEC supports this project by contributing a detailed report on Germany’s site selection experience. The draft report was distributed in advance of the meeting to interested member states for their comments.
During the “Technical Meeting on Siting Process for Geological Disposal, Contribution of Site Selection Criteria” held on 9 November 2025 in Vienna, approximately 50 participants from 30 countries were present in person, while another 55 joined online. The draft report was broadly endorsed — its structure and content were regarded as sound and beneficial. In addition, several “starting countries” requested extensions at certain points, which were thoroughly discussed.
The second part of the meeting comprised a workshop in which participants applied a methodological site selection approach to a generic dataset, simulating real-world decision scenarios. Our colleague A. Lommerzheim played a key role, delivering the project presentation, acting as session chair and rapporteur, and supervising a working group during the workshop.