Geological Disposal of Radioactive Wastes – Concept, Status and Trends

Europe is close to implementing its first geological repositories for spent nuclear fuel. The European Commission has endorsed geological disposal as the favoured strategy for dealing with Europe’s long-lived radioactive wastes, pointing out that it is tech-nically feasible now, and that can demonstrate the required guarantees of long-term isolation. This article reviews the origins and the scientific and technical basis of the concept of geological disposal, looking in particular at how isolation and containment are provided and the timescales over which containment is needed. It goes on to look at the status of geological disposal internationally and at some trends and issues which both implementers and regulators are addressing