New Storage Facility Approved for Decommissioning Waste
Belgoprocess, the industrial subsidiary of the Belgian National Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Material (ONDRAF/NIRAS), has been granted a permit to construct and operate a new facility in Dessel, Belgium. This facility is specifically designed for the temporary storage of non-conditioned radioactive waste generated during the final shutdown and dismantling of Belgium's nuclear power plants. The approval was formalized by a Royal Decree on August 29, 2025, and subsequently published in the Belgian Official Gazette on September 26, 2025.
Facility Details and Purpose
The new building, an extension of the existing building 136X on the Dessel site, is also referred to as 'ROC' or '165X'. It features a rectangular floor plan, measuring approximately 64.5 meters long, 19.5 meters wide, and 12.4 meters high. The facility is engineered to accommodate the stacking of 397 thick-walled storage packages, with additional space for several dozen 2001 transport packages. The waste will be stored in a non-immobilized form within these thick-walled, armored containers, ensuring that all options for subsequent processing and conditioning remain viable before a final disposal solution is implemented.
The Permitting Process
The application for this storage extension was initially submitted by Belgoprocess to the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC) on April 7, 2022. A public consultation period was held from March 4 to April 4, 2025, during which no objections were raised. Following a positive evaluation from FANC and a favorable opinion from the Scientific Council for Ionizing Radiation on June 20, 2025, the permit was officially granted. This rigorous process underscores the commitment to safety and regulatory compliance in managing radioactive materials.
Context of Belgian Nuclear Decommissioning
This new storage capacity is crucial for Belgium's ongoing nuclear phase-out strategy. A federal law enacted on January 31, 2003, mandated the decommissioning of all seven of the country's nuclear electricity generation reactors. Significant milestones in this process include the closure of Doel 3 in September 2022, Tihange 2 in January 2023, and Doel 1 in February 2025. Belgoprocess plays a vital role in Belgium's nuclear landscape, being responsible for the storage and processing of radioactive waste, thereby supporting the safe and responsible management of nuclear legacy materials.
5 Comments
Rotfront
No public objections means this plan is sound and well-received.
Noir Black
It's positive that a rigorous permitting process was followed, but the storage of non-conditioned radioactive waste still presents significant long-term risks. Public trust hinges on absolute transparency about future plans.
Eugene Alta
Excellent! Responsible waste management is key for a nuclear phase-out.
Africa
This new facility addresses an important logistical challenge in the decommissioning process, but the fact that the waste remains non-immobilized means potential risks remain higher than if it were conditioned for final disposal.
Bermudez
Dessel is already a nuclear hub. Adding more waste storage just increases the risk for residents.