# Germany and Switzerland nuclear waste repository planning > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/germany-and-switzerland-nuclear-waste-repository-planning > Updated: 2026-10-27T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 29. Developments: 3. Germany and Switzerland continue to navigate the complexities of selecting sites for high-level nuclear waste repositories. In Germany, the Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) is refining its search for a single site to replace sixteen interim facilities and safely contain approximately 27,000 cubic meters of waste for one million years. Recent geological evaluations have significantly narrowed the search area, reducing potential sites to less than five percent of Germany’s total land area. While Saarland and Rheinland-Pfalz were previously ruled out, the states of Berlin, Hessen, and Sachsen have now also been removed from consideration. Remaining candidate regions include parts of Brandenburg, Schleswig-Holstein, North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, Baden-Württemberg, and parts of Bavaria. In Baden-Württemberg, four specific regions have passed initial assessments: the northern and southern Black Forest, the Ulm region, and the Kurpfalz. The BGE is evaluating geological formations such as salt, clay, and crystalline rock to ensure long-term containment. The BGE aims to propose specific regions for surface exploration to the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) by the end of 2027, with the goal of securing a permanent location by 2050. The final decision on the site will be made by the Bundestag. Simultaneously, cross-border concerns persist regarding the Swiss proposed site, ‘Nördlich Lägern.’ Located near the German border, the site has prompted discussions between German officials and Swiss planners. During an exchange in Waldshut, NBG Co-Chair Marion Durst emphasized that “transparency and genuine opportunities for public participation are essential for building regional trust.” While the Swiss selection process is viewed as fair by the NBG, local German citizen initiatives, such as ‘Nördlich Lägern ohne Tiefenlager’ (LoTi), continue to express significant concern regarding the facility’s proximity to German communities like Hohentengen. ## Claims - The BGE has narrowed the potential nuclear waste repository search area to less than 5% of Germany's land area. (corroborated by 19 sources) - The repository must provide safety for one million years. (corroborated by 15 sources) - Germany aims to find a final repository by 2050. (corroborated by 10 sources) - The Bundestag makes the final decision on the site selection. (corroborated by 10 sources) - Saxony, Berlin, Hesse, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saarland are no longer part of the search. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Approximately 27,000 cubic meters of high-level radioactive waste need storage. (corroborated by 8 sources) - Approximately 27,000 cubic meters of high-level radioactive waste are currently stored in surface interim facilities. (corroborated by 8 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-10-27: Germany narrows search for nuclear waste repository to 5% of land Germany's search for a high-level nuclear waste repository has been narrowed to less than 5% of the national territory, with several states now excluded due to geological factors. 26 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-narrows-search-for-nuclear-waste-repository ### 2026-10-22: Germany evaluates regions for high-level nuclear waste repository Germany's BGE will present a nationwide assessment of potential sites for a high-level nuclear waste repository, with several regions in Baden-Württemberg still under consideration. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/germany-evaluates-regions-for-high-level-nuclear-waste-repository ### 2026-10-11: Swiss nuclear waste repository site sparks cross-border discussions German and Swiss officials and citizens are discussing cross-border implications of the proposed “Nördlich Lägern” radioactive waste repository located near the German-Swiss border. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/swiss-nuclear-waste-repository-site-sparks-cross-border-discussions --- Cite as: Germany and Switzerland nuclear waste repository planning. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/germany-and-switzerland-nuclear-waste-repository-planning