Germany's Search for Nuclear Waste Storage Site Faces Transparency Criticism

As the search for a permanent site for 27,000 cubic meters of radioactive waste continues, environmental groups question the openness of the process.

The Bundesgesellschaft für Endlager (BGE) aims to identify a final nuclear waste storage site in Germany by 2050, with the first phase of analysis set to conclude by 2027.
Currently, radioactive waste is stored in 16 temporary facilities across the country, with long-term geological assessments underway in nearly all federal states.
Environmental group BUND has accused the BGE of withholding critical information about potentially suitable regions, undermining public trust in the process.
BGE's recently published map of unsuitable areas leaves 44% of Germany still under consideration, but critics argue the selection process lacks sufficient transparency.
The third Forum Endlagersuche in Würzburg provides a platform for public engagement, featuring discussions with officials and experts on site selection challenges and safety considerations.