Andra and BGE cooperate on multiple disposal topics

BGE and Andra signed a cooperation agreement in 2018 for a period of 5 years on various themes ranging from governance to public acceptance or disposal concepts.

An intial Steering Committee was held in Berlin in 2019, during which the 2019/2020 cooperation roadmap was drafted. Some of the agreed-upon projects concerned knowledge management and clay properties. A visit to the Bure Underground Research Laboratory was held in 2019.

In December 2020, the second Steering Committee was organised by video conference due to current travel restrictions. More than 20 persons were connected to prepare the cooperation topics for the coming year. This meeting was also a good occasion to exchange on the status of national waste management programmes, disposal experience and best disposal practices.

After the presentations of Mr Abadie (Andra CEO) and Mr Studt (BGE CEO) as well as the BGE's Chief Operating Officer Dr. Lautsch and a presentation of the record of the 2019/2020 cooperation by Dr. Salsac (Andra Cooperation Manager),  the presentations of new cooperation topics were thoroughly discussed.

Selected subjects of cooperation  2021 are:

• modelling and design of support structures in HLW repositories in claystone,
• ramp transport for the disposal of radioactive waste 
• knowledge management.

Communication is also among the selected topics for 2021, as both coutries have launched a major communication program at local and national levels. The comparison of the practices implemented by the 2 countries will without doubt provide food for thought for future actions.

As soon as the pandemic situation allows , the partners will restore physicalmeetings, to enable deeper exchange of knowledge and experiences.

The coming year promises to be rich in exchanges and cooperation activities!