Rheinsberg: Dismantling of the nuclear power plant will take until 2040!

Rheinsberg: Dismantling of the nuclear power plant will take until 2040!

The Rheinsberg nuclear power plant, once a pride of the GDR, now stands as a relic from a bygone era in the dense deciduous forest of Brandenburg. After its shutdown in 1990, dismantling began, but turned out to be a lengthy and complicated process. The operator, EWN Disposal Plant for Nuclear Systems GmbH, has already invested over 700 million euros in the dismantling, which costs around 30 million euros annually. The site is expected to be completely dismantled by 2040, but many residents are dissatisfied with the slow progress.

Dismantling with obstacles

The dismantling work is characterized by laborious, small steps. All building structures must be inspected for radioactive contamination and decontaminated, which often takes months. “It sometimes takes a month to dismantle a door,” explains an EWN spokeswoman. Construction plans from the 1960s often do not match reality, causing additional delays. The dismantling of a nuclear facility is extremely complex and requires strict safety precautions.

The last fuel elements were transported to the Lubmin interim storage facility in 2001, and the reactor followed in 2007. The entire process is monitored by the Federal Agency for Final Storage, which is currently examining suitable locations for the final storage of highly radioactive waste. Residents complain that despite the high costs and long waiting times, there is little visible progress. “We’re not a chip shop,” says a worker at the plant, commenting on the situation.