The Gorleben mine

In 1977, the state of Lower Saxony selected the Gorleben site as a “provisional site” for a “possible nuclear waste management centre” with a reprocessing plant, fuel element plant and repository. Due to considerable public protests, the plan for a nuclear waste management centre was abandoned again in May 1979. However, the Gorleben salt dome was still seen as a potential site for a repository.

From autumn 1979 onwards, the salt dome was explored with a view to its possible use as a repository. Construction of the Gorleben exploratory mine began in the 1980s. Extensive surface and underground exploration was carried out – but radioactive waste was not brought underground into the salt dome at any point. Working groups were formed in addition to further technical and accompanying political bodies, and numerous technical reports were produced on the suitability or unsuitability of the Gorleben salt dome as well as on safety aspects during the construction of a repository. Many repository-specific investigation methods that were developed during the exploratory campaign in Gorleben represent a good starting point for the current site selection procedure.

With the adoption of the Repository Site Selection Act (StandAG) in 2013, exploratory work in Gorleben was discontinued. The Gorleben site was treated like any other potential site in Germany within the framework of the site selection procedure. On 29 July 2014, the Federal government and the state of Lower Saxony agreed that not only the mine cavities that had been kept in operation but also the surface installations would be scaled back to the size needed to keep the mine open. In addition, the safety installations would be reduced to the level of a normal industrial facility. Underground, the areas that are no longer needed in order to keep the mine open have been decommissioned and sealed off. Machinery and vehicles that are no longer needed have been brought above ground and withdrawn from service.

Above ground, the size of the mine site has been reduced considerably, and changes have been made to the mine infrastructure. Buildings and installations that are not needed purely to keep the mine open have been dismantled. The building housing both the changing facilities and the administration and archive of the Gorleben mine continues to be used as part of the closure work. In 2019, all but a few sections of the surrounding wall that had long protected the site against unauthorised access were removed, and the downsized facility was surrounded with standard industrial fencing. One section of the wall was retained in response to calls from the region. It will be for local politicians in the Lüchow-Dannenberg district to advise on whether and how it can be preserved in the long term.