Laloui Group research key to NAGRA site selection

The Laloui Group has played an important role in the final site selection to dispose of Switzerland’s radioactive waste. It was announced earlier this week by the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (NAGRA) that the northern region of Lägern is the favored location for a CHF 20 billion underground radioactive waste disposal facility in Switzerland.

Under the Basel Convention, all countries must dispose of radioactive waste within their own borders and Switzerland has been exploring potential locations for the last two decades.

The EPFL lab’s long and extensive experience with the characteristics of clays has led to it being an essential partner in the NAGRA project. The team has been studying the properties of opalinus clay found in the Lägern area as part of a 14-year evaluation process. Speaking to the Swiss newspaper Le Temps, the Director of the Laloui Group, Professor Lyesse Laloui, said the lab’s research was critical in site selection. “We were able to develop tools for experimental characterization and numerical analysis to more precisely assess the behavior of the material that will host the deposit, which NAGRA did not have before.” This analysis showed that the Lâgern site provided the best geological barrier, rock stability, and a high degree of flexibility for the underground repository compared with the other sites considered.

However, the site selection is far from set in stone. The project’s next phase involves further technical reviews. In another interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS, Laloui explained, “We have not yet completely explored stability and safety, so NAGRA must file a technical review document in 2 years.“ Again, the Laloui Group research data will likely be relied on as part of the review.

There is still much to do, including a public consultation, a parliamentary vote, and a possible national referendum on the site before construction is due in 2034, with the first test implementations likely to be deposited in 2050. Despite what seems an inordinate amount of time, Dr. Alessio Ferrari, a research associate with the Laloui Group, told Swiss-Italian radio that Switzerland is ahead of most of the world when it comes to searching for suitable disposal options for their radioactive waste. “For countries such as France, Belgium, and Switzerland, they dig in clay. Switzerland is definitely among the most advanced countries in the nuclear ranks program because it has already identified, with precision, the most suitable soil type for the task within the country, opalinus clay.”

With media outlets keen to tap the lab’s expertise, it has been a busy week for the group and the team looks forward to continuing its important work, ensuring a safe and secure location for Swiss radioactive material now and into the distant future.