Written questions, answers and statements

Radioactive Waste

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Question for Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

UIN 11592, tabled on 29 October 2024

Question

Mark Garnier
Conservative
Wyre Forest
Commons

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of the use of deep boreholes as an alternative to the Geological Disposal Facility for nuclear waste.

Answer

Michael Shanks
Labour
Rutherglen
Commons

Answered on

5 November 2024

Deep borehole technology is at a developmental stage of technical maturity and has not yet been implemented anywhere in the world. It is possible the technology could play a complementary role in managing some radioactive hazardous waste in the future. However, it would not be suitable for the entire UK radioactive waste inventory for which a geological disposal facility will always be required. Nuclear Waste Services, the developer of the geological disposal facility, continues to review radioactive waste management emerging technologies. It will publish its most recent review in the coming months.

Answered by

Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
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