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BGE inspects storage chamber 8a in the Asse for the first time in decades
BGE inspects emplacement chamber 8a: images and measurements prepare for retrieval of intermediate-level radioactive waste in the Asse mine
08.12.2025
Source: Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung
For the first time in several decades, the Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (BGE) has examined storage chamber 8a on the 511-meter level of the Asse mine.
A special camera was used to record images and measurement data of the barrels stored 50 years ago. The aim is to prepare for the planned retrieval of medium-level radioactive waste.
The inspection revealed that most of the casks are intact, some are dented but no waste has leaked out. A 3D scan and dose rate measurements were also carried out. The maximum radiation inside the cask cone was 167 mSv/h, significantly lower than historical measurements from 1996.
A total of 1,301 casks are stored in the MAW chamber, of which 1,293 contain intermediate-level radioactive waste and 8 contain low-level radioactive waste. The findings serve as a basis for planning the safe retrieval of the waste and for assessing the stability of the chamber roof.
"The evaluation of the images and measurements is crucial for further retrieval planning," explained Iris Graffunder, Chairwoman of the BGE Management Board.
