Technical fault halts German nuclear waste transport

The planned 10th shipment of highly radioactive nuclear waste from a former German research reactor was cancelled after the specialist transport vehicle developed a technical fault, police said early on Thursday.

The Castor container never left the secured grounds of the former Jülich research reactor in western Germany, police said. It had been due to travel around 170 kilometres to an interim storage facility in Ahaus.

Police said it was not possible to repair or replace the vehicle at short notice on Wednesday evening, prompting officials to cancel the transport.

There was no danger from the container or its contents at any time, police said, adding that the fault affected only the truck pulling it.

The vehicle and its load remained on the secured site in Jülich. A similar shipment had taken place without issue the previous night.

Small protests were held on both days.

In total, 152 containers are due to be transferred over several months from Jülich to Ahaus.

The waste is being moved in Castor containers, specialized casks designed to shield radiation, with the transports escorted by a large police presence.

The transports stem from a 2014 order by North Rhine-Westphalia's nuclear regulator to clear the interim storage facility in Jülich.