Brussels (Platts)--7Feb2012/702 am EST/1202 GMT

An EU nuclear expert group is calling for public feedback by February 13 on how best to manage deep geological disposal of nuclear waste, the European Commission said Monday.

"Our vision is that by 2025, the first geological disposal facilities for spent fuel, high-level nuclear waste, and other long-lived radioactive waste will be operating safely in Europe," the group said in its draft deployment plan published for feedback.

The EC set up the group, known as the implementing geological disposal of radioactive waste technology platform, in 2009 to support EU-wide research, development and demonstration of safe, deep geological disposal of spent fuel and other long-lived radioactive waste.

The group seeks to solve the remaining scientific, technological and social challenges, and thereby to support the nuclear waste management programs in EU countries.

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The group published a strategic research agenda in July 2011 which assessed research and development projects and identified further work needed.

Key topics addressed by the group include safety cases, waste forms and their behavior, technical feasibility and long-term performance of repository components, development strategy of the repository, safety of construction and operations, monitoring and governance, and stakeholder involvement.

The three EU countries closest to licensing -- Finland, France and Sweden -- plan to commission their respective geological repositories at the latest by 2025.

Other EU countries with programs further from licensing will benefit from the experience gained -- and will contribute to further developments -- by accumulating shared experience and knowledge from the group's joint activities, the group said in its plan.

The group brings together European scientific research centers, waste management agencies, industry and international organizations and civil society and supports the implementation of the EU's 2011 nuclear waste directive.

The group is co-funded by the Euratom seventh framework research program.

--Jane Morecroft, newsdesk@platts.com

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