Cigéo nuclear waste project receives favorable inquiry commission opinion

An inquiry commission has issued a favorable opinion regarding the Cigéo project, a plan to bury high-level and long-lived intermediate-level radioactive waste in a deep geological repository near Bure, France. Although the public inquiry received 3,166 contributions with a slight majority (1,548) being unfavorable, the commission concluded that the advantages of authorizing the project outweigh the disadvantages.

The commission noted that uncertainties and shortcomings raised by opponents could be addressed by Andra, the national agency for radioactive waste management, during the pilot industrial phase under the supervision of the nuclear safety authority (ASNR).

The favorable opinion includes two reserves and two recommendations. The commission requested that reversibility reviews be conducted at least every five years with reports submitted to Parliament, and suggested that the authorization decree limit the pilot phase to specific volumes and sectors. Additionally, the commission recommended resolving local taxation issues before the authorization decree is signed.