Press Release 26. 11. 2010

Representatives of the state administration, municipalities from the preselected sites, national and local environmental organisations and associations and of an academic sociology institute established a working group on November 25, 2010 at Ministry of Industry and Trade in Prague, Czech Republic. The aim of this group is to strengten the transparency of the process of selection a suitable site for a deep geological repository of spent nuclear fuel and high level waste, with respect to the public interests and to facilitate the active participation of the public and the communities in particular in the related decision-making process. The establishment of the working group was initiated by the Radioactive Waste Repository Autority (RAWRA) - state organisation responsible for the safe disposal of all radioactive waste generated in the Czech Republic - with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and in cooperation with the Ministry of the Environment.

The establishment of the working group might be seen as a significant step forward in a process, which started by a conference „Deliberation - way to deep geological repository“ last November in Prague, followed by a broad „round-table“ discussion of all stakeholders in June 2010.

The working group with 29 members aims to facilitate the reconciliation of divergent views and expectations, to react on requirements of certain communities and to ensure that the work directed to the development of a deep geological repository will reflect not only the national, economic and technical criteria, but will address all local interests such as the environmental protection and the steady development of the deep geological repository region in particular.