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Future of the Upper Palatinate: Flossenbürg and Waidhaus as final repository candidates!
The search for a location for a final storage facility in Germany includes Flossenbürg and Waidhaus. Geological criteria influence the decisions.
Future of the Upper Palatinate: Flossenbürg and Waidhaus as final repository candidates!
Germany is currently facing a huge challenge: finding a suitable location for a final repository for highly radioactive waste. On November 3, 2025, an updated map was published that lists, among other things, the Flossenbürg and Waidhaus areas as possible locations. This information comes from Upper Palatinate echo, where it is also reported that District Administrator Andreas Meier and geologists are optimistic and assume that these areas could soon fall off the shortlist again.
The search began in 2017 and is coordinated by the Federal Office for Nuclear Waste Safety (BASE) and the Federal Society for Final Storage (BGE). A decision on the final location is expected to be made between 2046 and 2068. In order not to cause unnecessary excitement in the region, District Administrator Meier emphasizes that the region's interests will be protected. However, there are also critical voices: geologist Dr. Andreas Peterek says that the likelihood of Flossenbürg and Waidhaus as repository locations has not increased. This could be because granite is controversial as a potential repository rock.
Location criteria and exclusions
During the assessment, large areas were excluded compared to 2024, especially in the western parts of the Tirschenreuth and Neustadt/WN districts. In the eastern district of Tirschenreuth, the criterion “volcanic activity younger than one million years” was explicitly applied. Non-granite rocks in the crystalline were also generally classified as unsuitable, which led to the loss of large areas. As well as BGE explains, only certain host rocks can be considered for the final disposal of highly radioactive waste in Germany: rock salt, clay rock and crystalline rock. These rocks offer the ideal properties to safely contain such waste for many hundreds of thousands of years.
Digital events on the search for a final repository
In order to make the process more transparent, digital events on the final repository search will take place from November 10th to 13th, 2025, which will be accessible online via Zoom. Citizens are invited to find out more and ask questions. This initiative is intended to help increase trust in the process and promote citizen dialogue.