BGE TECHNOLOGY's engagement in IAEA activities

For several decades, BGE TECHNOLOGY GmbH (BGE TEC) and its predecessors (the R&D department of DBE and DBE TECHNOLOGY GmbH) have been involved in International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) networking groups such as Underground Research Facilities (#URF) and the IAEA International Low Level Waste Disposal Network (#DISPONET) and have supported the IAEA in several expert missions.

The URF Network for Geological Disposal (URF Network) was implemented to foster information exchange on practice and learning for geological disposal. In this context, developing safe, sustainable, and effective geological disposal programs through technology demonstrations is encouraged, training is improved, and communications between participating organizations are enhanced. To achieve these goals, URF members report their experiences and share and discuss best practices in developing, evaluating, and implementing geological disposal solutions for intermediate and high-level waste and spent nuclear fuel. Compiling national program results for IAEA Nuclear Series reports continues to be an important tool for knowledge transfer from advanced programs to new programs. BGE TEC contributed to several of those reports, including the recent "DGR Roadmap" and "URL Compendium," which are now being prepared for publication. Furthermore, BGE TEC supports the URF Network through its participation in the steering committee.

DISPONET serves Member States to enhance efficiency in sharing international experiences to ensure the application of safe and sustainable solutions in the disposal of low- and intermediate-level waste. Therefore, experiences, lessons, and good practices should be transferred to new programs. Furthermore, a forum supporting expert advice and technical guidance on questions related to disposal was implemented, and training and practical learning experiences were organized. Those activities are planned in cooperation with advanced waste disposal programs. Topics considered cover the full scope of disposal issues and respect different national approaches to the management of low- and intermediate-level waste. BGE TEC supports DISPONET‘s objectives by participating in the Steering Committee and supporting the preparation of technical reports, e.g., Design Principles and Approaches (NW-T-1.27) and Costing Methods and Funding (NW-T-1.25). Furthermore, BGE TEC contributes to the preparation of a report on the closure of surface repositories.

In November 2022, an IAEA Expert Mission took place at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) in Visaginas Municipality, #Lithuania, next to the Belarusian border. The mission was part of the larger IAEA project "Enhancing National Capabilities for Decommissioning and Radioactive Waste Management, Safety Assessment, Oversight, Licensing, and Emergency Preparedness". The project’s objective was to support radioactive waste management and decommissioning activities at INPP. The mission was part of a larger project that aimed to provide expert advice on radioactive waste disposal issues. The expert group included an expert from BGE TEC and members from the IAEA, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Serbia. The head of the Radioactive Waste Repositories at INPP served as the local host for the mission, which included technical meetings and site visits at the radioactive waste handling facilities and the VLLW repository. At the various sites and at the Vilnius office, fruitful discussions took place between the experts and the decommissioning and disposal staff experts. Topics ranged from engineering challenges for the VLLW repository to the demonstration mock-up for the surface disposal facility for LILW to public opinion and stakeholder engagement for the future DGR for HLW. Among other things, mission participants learned that international #cooperation is extremely beneficial for these complex projects.

Continuous collaboration with the IAEA and other global radioactive waste management agencies forms one of the main pillars of the BGE TEC’s suite of services.