International Conference: On the way to a safe Radioactive Waste Repository

The disposal of high level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel is a technical and scientific challenge in many countries using nuclear power for electricity generation. The conference will begin with a welcome note by the Federal Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Sigmar Gabriel. On the first day, the representatives of different national repository organisations will provide insights in repository concepts by presenting work on site selection and exploration as well as current plans on the construction and operation of repository mines. On the following days, scientists from Germany and abroad will present latest results on the properties of claystone as repository formation, on the development of suitable geomaterials for long-term repository sealing and the gas tightness of salt rock. Further topics will be different aspects of the safety criteria and modelling of geological repositories by applying safety analysis methods.

Venue: Stadthalle Braunschweig, Leonhardplatz, BraunschweigContact: Prof. Dr. Wernt Brewitz, wernt.brewitz@grs.deOrganiser: Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) and Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) mbHRegistration: www.reposafe.de; a press lunch will be held on 6 November 2007

Cologne, 8 October 2007

About GRS

GRS has around 400 employees. Its shareholders are the Federal Republic of Germany, the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia and the Land of Bavaria, the technical inspection organisations (TÜV) and Germanischer Lloyd.

GRS is financed through projects. The annual volume of contracts currently amounts to around 50 million euros. Main customers are the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU), the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi), the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS) and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Other German customers are the authorities of the Länder, the Federal Environmental Agency and the Foreign Office. The most important foreign customer is the European Union.

GRS mbH ˇ Schwertnergasse 1 ˇ 50667 Köln Abteilung Kommunikation

Telefon 0221 2068 -0 ˇ Telefax 0221 2068-888 Durchwahl: 2068-654/899