Decommissioning of nuclear facilities

In order to protect humans and the environment, nuclear installations are decommissioned in a regulated manner once their commercial use comes to an end.

The Atomic Energy Act (AtG), the Radiation Protection Act (StrlSchG) and associated ordinances provide the legal framework for decommissioning nuclear installations. According to this legislation, decommissioning is subject to an official licensing procedure with public participation.

The term "decommissioning" includes all measures taken after the granting of the decommissioning licence until regulatory control is no longer necessary.

So far, 30 power and prototype reactors, over 30 research reactors and eleven nuclear fuel cycle facilities (except interim storage facilities and repositories) have been dismantled or are at various stages of decommissioning in Germany.

Germany therefore has a great deal of experience in decommissioning, both regarding the number and the diversity of installations.