Return to Nuclear Power: AfD Candidate Advocates for Nuclear Waste Storage in Erzgebirge

The Erzgebirge region in Saxony, renowned for its wood craftsmanship, snowy mountains, and sports figures like Jens Weißflog, may soon be associated with a new initiative: a nuclear waste repository. Christian Kriegel, the AfD's Bundestag candidate from Leipzig, has expressed support for this proposal during an interview with regional broadcaster Sachsen-Fernsehen, emphasizing the party's commitment to nuclear energy due to its efficiency and environmental benefits.

Kriegel highlighted the party's stance on continuing coal energy usage alongside a shift back to nuclear power. When questioned about handling the radioactive waste generated from a potential nuclear energy revival, he suggested that former mining shafts in the Erzgebirge could be evaluated as suitable locations for disposal. He proposed that the depth of these shafts could facilitate effective management of the waste.

Historically, the Erzgebirge has been a significant mining area, rich with a network of tunnels. Initially, silver was mined in the region, followed by tin and copper. During the Cold War, thousands of miners extracted uranium for the Soviet Union, which required the material for its nuclear arsenals. Some of these shafts descend to depths of 1,800 meters.

Currently, the Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal (BGE) is tasked with locating a site for a long-term storage facility for high-level radioactive waste, which originates from decommissioned nuclear power plants across Germany. In October 2023, the BGE released a report identifying potential areas for this storage, indicating that 90 regions covering approximately 54% of Germany's land area are under consideration.

Among the states involved in this search are Lower Saxony, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Saxony. The BGE aims to propose specific regions by 2027, which will subsequently undergo surface exploration to assess their viability for waste storage.

The ongoing discussions surrounding nuclear waste management and the AfD's position on nuclear energy are part of a broader dialogue on energy policy in Germany, particularly in light of the country's transition away from fossil fuels and toward more sustainable energy sources.