Germany's final nuclear waste shipment arrives at Brokdorf amid safety debates

The final shipment of Castor casks containing reprocessed fuel rods has arrived at Brokdorf for long-term storage. The Brokdorf nuclear power plant itself has been shut down since January 2022. Officials and activists have marked the occasion with mixed reactions. A total of 76 Castor casks were already stored at Brokdorf’s interim facility. Now, seven more have joined them. Each cask is sealed with a double-lid system, featuring a helium layer that triggers an alarm if pressure changes occur.

Jochen Flasbarth of the SPD and Tobias Goldschmidt of the Green Party attended the final transport together. Flasbarth emphasised Germany’s responsibility to manage the legacy of its nuclear energy use. Critics, however, remain unconvinced about the safety of such interim sites.

In 2013, Schleswig’s Higher Administrative Court revoked the operating licence for the nearby Brunsbüttel interim storage facility over safety concerns. Running Brokdorf’s own storage cost around €16 million in 2024. The timeline for a permanent disposal solution still depends on the progress of the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal. The last Castor casks are now in place at Brokdorf. The site will hold them indefinitely until a final disposal method is ready. The debate over nuclear waste safety and long-term storage continues.