Cigéo public inquiry: Inquiry Commission issues a favourable opinion on the creation licence application
On 14 September 2026, the Prefectures of Meuse and Haute-Marne published the report and conclusions of the Commission responsible for the public inquiry conducted as part of Cigéo's creation licence application process.
The public inquiry was held from 18 May to 16 July 2026. After reviewing all the contributions submitted by members of the public, the Commission prepared a summary of the main issues raised and submitted follow-up questions to Andra, which subsequently provided a written response.
Based on these elements, the Commission finalised its report, summarising public contributions and the key developments throughout the inquiry process, and setting out its conclusions
A favourable opinion on Cigéo's creation licence application accompanied by two reservations and two recommendations
The Commission concluded that the project benefits from "undisputed democratic and legal legitimacy" and noted that Andra "has unique experience in the management of radioactive waste in surface facilities" and can rely on "25 years of studies conducted in its Underground Research Laboratory" to implement the Cigéo project.
The Commission therefore issued a favourable opinion on Cigéo's creation licence application, accompanied by two reservations and two recommendations.
The reservations concern:
- reversibility reviews, which the Commission requests should begin during the initial construction phase, be held at least every five years and be linked to the main milestones of the pilot industrial phase. The Commission also requests that the resulting reports be submitted to OPECST(1);
- the pilot industrial phase, for which the Commission requests that the creation licence decree specify the limits defined in the application: a maximum of 6,000 waste packages and, for the underground facilities, a maximum footprint of five ILW-LL disposal cells, including one demonstrator, and one HLW disposal area.
The recommendations relate to:
- studies into alternative solutions: the Commission recommends that CEDA(2) continue its work as part of the 6th PNGMDR(3) and that particular attention be paid to the CNDP's(4) request for additional expert assessment by the French Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radioprotection (ASNR) on the possibility of long-term surface storage of HLW;
- the resolution of local taxation arrangements for municipalities before the creation licence decree is issued.
(1) OPECST: French Parliamentary Office for the Evaluation of Scientific and Technological Choices (Office parlementaire d'évaluation des choix scientifiques et technologiques).
(2) Expert Committee for Dialogue on Alternatives to Deep Geological Disposal (Comité d’expertise et de dialogue sur les alternatives au stockage en couche géologique profonde).
(3) French National Plan for the Management of Radioactive Materials and Waste (Plan national de gestion des matières et déchets radioactifs).
(4) French National Commission for Public Debate (Commission nationale du débat public).
Understanding the Commission's reservations
About the pilot industrial phase
The pilot industrial phase covers the initial construction phase and the first years of operation of Cigéo. It is an essential step in enabling Andra to progressively prepare for the operation of the facility.
One of its objectives is to confirm the reversibility of the facility through waste package retrieval tests and to further substantiate its safety case.
About reversibility reviews
Reversibility reviews are regular milestones for monitoring the implementation of the principles underpinning reversibility, including adaptability, flexibility, retrievability and progressive development.
Without waiting for Cigéo to enter operation, Andra has already proposed voluntarily organising a first reversibility review following the granting of the creation licence.
About the number of waste packages to be disposed of during the pilot industrial phase
Andra estimates that approximately 6,000 waste packages would be disposed of during the pilot industrial phase, representing around 3% of the total number of packages included in Cigéo’s reference inventory.
One pilot HLW disposal area and four ILW-LL disposal cells would accommodate the waste packages planned for disposal during this phase.
Nearly 3,200 public contributions
The public inquiry received 3,166 contributions from across France.
Their geographical diversity, together with the wide range of topics addressed, reflects the variety of perspectives and concerns expressed by stakeholders and members of the public.
The Inquiry Commission's report and reasoned conclusions are publicly available on the websites of the Meuse and Haute-Marne Prefectures in French.
Next steps
Based on the Inquiry Commission's report and conclusions, the opinions of the French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority (ASNR), the National Evaluation Commission (CNE) and the Environmental Authority, the OPECST report, the opinion of the coordinating Prefect, and the results of consultations with local authorities and stakeholders conducted as part of the review process, the ministry responsible for nuclear safety is expected to submit a draft creation licence decree to ASNR for its opinion and subsequently to the French Conseil d'État.