Enormous protest against Castor transports: safety in danger!

Enormous protest against Castor transports: safety in danger!

Things are boiling in Cologne and beyond: the announced transport of highly radioactive nuclear waste from Jülich to Ahaus in North Rhine-Westphalia is causing massive protests and critical voices from various camps. Opponents of nuclear power, the Die Linke party and the police union (GdP) express sharp concerns about the planned Castor transports, which Matthias Eickhoff from the Münsterland Action Alliance describes as the “largest series of transports with highly radioactive nuclear waste in the history of the Federal Republic”. These transports are not only perceived as shocking, but also as a “political declaration of bankruptcy” that shakes confidence in the state’s security responsibility, reports taz.

The situation continues to worsen as Hubertus Zdebel from the Left Party criticizes the measures as “disregard for parliament”. A motion against these transports will only be discussed in the Bundestag after the summer break, which gives rise to the impression that action was taken hastily. Patrick Schlüter, the GdP leader, describes the plans as “madness” and warns of major security risks. He makes it clear that police officers would have to be withdrawn from other important tasks in order to secure the transport.

Planned transport and safety concerns

All eyes are on the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE), which is planning approval for up to 152 Castor transports, including 10 transports from the Garching research reactor at the Technical University of Munich. Alexander Vogt, deputy parliamentary group leader of the SPD in the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament, expects approval by mid-August, followed by the start of transport in eight weeks. However, the transports are not without risks, as critical voices hinder the safety of the transport routes. These lead through densely populated areas and over dilapidated bridges, which fuels the protests of other groups such as BUND NRW reported.

“It is senseless and dangerous,” say the group of initiatives, while pointing to the already ordered evacuation of the Jülich nuclear waste storage facility due to the risk of earthquakes. This danger has been considered non-existent since 2022, but has long since led to the creation of a heated atmosphere. The interim storage facility in Ahaus is considered unsuitable because it is one of the oldest of its kind and there is no “hot cell” for the safe packaging of nuclear waste. Many fear that the transports could last up to 152 individual trips over a period of four to eight years.

Protests and political responsibility

The political leaders are also heavily represented in the reviews. The Green NRW Economics Minister Mona Neubaur and the CDU Prime Minister Hendrik Wüst are facing accusations of ignoring the coalition agreement. Protests and vigils are already on the agenda. Anti-nuclear initiatives have announced vigils in front of the interim storage facilities in Jülich and Ahaus and are calling for a large anti-nuclear walk on August 31st. The criticism is becoming loud and clear because people are demanding a rethink in nuclear policy and long-term, safe interim storage of nuclear waste, they say Wikipedia.

Overall, the debate about the Castor transports is flanked by broad cultural and political rejection. Given the impending transport permit, it remains to be seen whether the protests will intensify while politicians continue to be called upon to act transparently and responsibly.