The SAFIR 2 report presents the current state of the scientific and technical research carried out over the last ten years (1990-2000) on the possible final disposal of high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste (category B & C waste) in deep clay layers. With the publication of the report, ONDRAF/NIRAS furnishes its supervising minister and all the actors involved, in particular the safety authorities, with a document that enables them to evaluate the progress made regarding the feasibility and the safety of an underground repository in clay for high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste.

ONDRAF/NIRAS carries out many studies in cooperation with the Centre d'Etude de l'Energie Nucléaire (nuclear research centre) (CEN·SCK) and various engineering consultancies and universities, to verify whether final disposal in deep clay layers can guarantee the protection of man and the environment in the long term. These studies have been going on in Belgium for over 25 years.

So far, the work has focused on the Boom clay in the Mol-Dessel region and, to a lesser extent, on the Ypresian clays in the Doel region. It concerns the potential host rock and hence in no way implies the choice of a site, which involves many other factors, both technical and social.

Research has reinforced the confidence in clay as a natural barrier, and confirms that deep disposal in poorly indurated clay (such as the Boom clay), remains a conceivable option. Without questioning the basic choice of the Boom clay, the report states that certain important questions still have to be answered. It is therefore premature to be making decisive statements about the technical feasibility of a repository in this host formation or about the operational or long-term safety. The same goes for the Ypresian clays.

The work performed until now can only be really validated if it is presented in a decision-making context, which meets the expectations of a modern society. This context does not exist at present and should be put in place to find a socially acceptable solution. ONDRAF/NIRAS will take the necessary initiatives to this end.

The future work programme of ONDRAF/NIRAS will concentrate on preparing and holding a dialogue on this matter at all levels, as well as on technically and scientifically developing the options resulting from this dialogue.

At the request of the Belgian government, the SAFIR 2 report was evaluated by a committee of international experts, under the auspices of the Nuclear Energy Agency. The final report of this evaluation (to be downloaded below in PDF format) was transmitted to ONDRAF/NIRAS in April 2003.

For more information on this subject, click and read the following pdf-documents: (To open PDF-documents, you need Acrobat Reader 5.0).

• The SAFIR 2 report (Nirond 2001-06 E - December 2001)

There are two full versions of the SAFIR 2 report.
- A low resolution pdf version which can be downloaded in 10 parts (to limit download time) below;
- a high resolution version, available on cd-rom which can be ordered by completing the order form below. The figures in this version are clearer.

	• Low resolution pdf version:
		Part 1 - text 1 - chapters 1 to 10 (PDF - 2,01M)
		Part 2 - text 2 - chapters 11 to 13 (PDF - 2,72M)
		Part 3 - figures 1 - chapters 0 to 2 (PDF - 169K)
		Part 4 - figures 2 - chapter 3/1 (PDF - 2,45M)
		Part 5 - figures 3 - chapter 3/2 (PDF - 2,34 M)
		Part 6 - figures 4 - chapter 3/3 (PDF - 3,01M)
		Part 7 - figures 5 - chapters 4 to 10 (PDF - 1,58M)
		Part 8 - figures 6 - chapters 11.1 to 11.3 (PDF - 2,11M)
		Part 9 - figures 7 - chapters 11.4 to 11.5.3 (PDF - 2,52M)
		Part 10 - figures 8 - chapters 11.5.4 to 13 (PDF - 676K)

• Technical overview of the SAFIR 2 report (Nirond 2001-05 E - December 2001)

There are three versions of the Technical overview of the SAFIR 2 report:
- A low resolution pdf version which can be downloaded in 1 part below;
- a high resolution pdf version which can be downloaded in 6 parts (to limit download time) below;
- and a printed version which can be ordered by completing the order form below.

	• Low resolution pdf version (PDF - 2,28M)
	• High resolution pdf version:
	Part 1 (PDF - 761K)
	Part 2 (PDF - 142K)
	Part 3 (PDF - 3,8M)
	Part 4 (PDF - 1,24M)
	Part 5 (PDF - 2,64M)
	Part 6 (PDF - 3,6M)

	Towards a sustainable management of radioactive waste - background to the SAFIR 2 report (Nirond 2001-07 E - December 2001) (PDF - 355K)
	Towards a sustainable management of radioactive waste (Press release - 4 February 2002) (PDF - 9K)
	Towards a sustainable management of radioactive waste (Press file - 4 February 2002) (PDF - 58K)
	SAFIR 2: Belgian R&D Programme on the Deep Disposal of High-level and Long-lived Radioactive Waste - An international Peer Review (Nuclear Energy Agency, 2003)