Nuclear's cleanup cost threatens the expansion dream

"Inside special building one of the former nuclear power plant, parts of the wall are uneven and pockmarked—the result of workers hammering off layers of concrete, hunting for radioactive contamination. It's been one of the 'most difficult buildings to decontaminate and dismantle,' explains Kurt Radlof, who handles communications for the plant."

"Nuclear power has existed for over 70 years. Still, out of more than 600 reactors ever built, only a third have been closed and 20 fully decommissioned. The current life span of a reactor is 30 to 40 years, and hundreds are heading into retirement."

"Dismantling the facility was supposed to take about 20 years. It's still nowhere near finished and has become one of the world's most expensive civil decommissioning projects."

The Lubmin nuclear facility in former East Germany, shut down 35 years ago, exemplifies the challenges of nuclear decommissioning. Originally expected to take 20 years, the dismantling process remains incomplete and has become one of the world's most expensive civil decommissioning projects. Radiation protection workers continue detecting significant contamination requiring careful removal of concrete layers. Globally, over 600 nuclear reactors have been built, yet only about 200 have closed and merely 20 fully decommissioned. With typical reactor lifespans of 30-40 years, hundreds are approaching retirement. Despite decommissioning's complexity and expense, countries pursue nuclear revival for energy independence amid current energy crises.

Read at www.dw.com