Project Objective

The conversion of the former iron ore mine Konrad into a final repository for all types of solid or compacted radioactive waste with negligible heat generation comprises the construction of completely new surface systems at shaft Konrad 2 with new shaft hoisting equipment to transport the radioactive waste into the mine. Apart from the installation of new shaft hoisting equipment for personnel and supplies, the systems at shaft Konrad 1 will remain basically unchanged due to their protected status as sites of historic interest. The planned underground work comprises the excavation and equipment of the disposal chambers, of the roadways and of several infrastructure areas. This conversion work will take approx. 4 to 6 years.

In the concept of the final repository, several disposal areas are planned at depths between 800 m and 1,300 m with a capacity of up to 650,000 m³, the actual disposal volume is restricted to 303,000 m³ by the license. About 90 % of the radioactive waste in Germany qualifies for disposal in the Konrad repository. The technology necessary for storage and subsequent backfilling of the remaining cavities was developed, constructed as prototypes and tested by DBE. Thus, the conversion into a final repository has been prepared to a large degree.