Cigéo Update: An Overview of France's Deep Geological Repository
For over 30 years, Andra has been developing the Cigéo project, France’s deep geological repository for high-level and intermediate-level long-lived waste. As the Agency’s flagship project for the coming decades, Cigéo plays a central role in ensuring the long-term, safe and responsible management of radioactive waste, with a strong commitment to transparency and the protection of people and the environment.
This document provides an updated overview of the Cigéo project. It first explains how radioactive waste is managed in France, before presenting the key features of Cigéo, including the siting process, the design of the facilities, the principle of reversibility and the overall project timeline. It also outlines the creation licence application process and presents the opinion issued by the ASNR (the French Nuclear Safety and Radioprotection Authority) following its review. Through this overview, the document aims to provide clear and transparent information on the project’s progress and regulatory framework.