"NGW (North Rhine-Westphalia) set to initiate Castor transportation imminently"

Nuclear Waste Transports from Jülich to Ahaus Imminent

The expected commencement of nuclear waste transports from the decommissioned research reactor in Jülich to the intermediate storage facility in Ahaus is anticipated to begin in the coming weeks, according to recent reports from early August 2025. The Federal Office for Nuclear Waste Disposal (BASE) is expected to give the green light for the new wave of Castor transports through North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) this summer.

The nuclear waste in question involves spent fuel elements and other materials from the Jülich Research Center, which are planned to be temporarily stored at the Ahaus interim storage facility. The transport permit for these nuclear waste transports is expected to be issued in the next few days.

The transports have sparked protests from residents and activists, and the state government of NRW is criticized for not building a new, earthquake-resistant intermediate storage facility in Jülich. However, the federal government makes the decision independently on whether the transports from Jülich to Ahaus will take place.

The deputy chairman of the NRW state parliament's faction, Alexander Vogt, stated that the start of the transports depends on the implementation of safety measures and other preparations. The routes of the transports will be kept secret for security reasons.

Preparations such as the reconstruction of the Tobit roundabout in Ahaus, intended to facilitate the Castor truck transports, were scheduled to begin in May 2025, despite transport permits not yet being issued at that time. Two Castor containers can be transported together.

In their coalition agreement, the CDU and Greens had written that they wanted to push forward the option of this new construction, but the traffic light coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP at the federal level decided to prioritize the transport of Castors to Ahaus if NRW does not bear the additional costs for the new construction beyond the transport.

The timeline for the issuance of the transport permit depends on the implementation of necessary safety measures and other preparations. No further details were provided by the NRW Ministry of Economics.

The Ahaus storage facility is federally owned and managed by Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung (BGZ), which handles interim storage operations for such waste. Related nuclear transports from other facilities, such as Gronau uranium enrichment, have been occurring regularly since 2019 via nearby routes, showing ongoing nuclear logistics activity in the region.

In summary, while exact transport dates have not been publicly fixed, official and preparatory steps strongly indicate the transports from Jülich to Ahaus will start soon in 2025, pending final regulatory permits and completion of necessary infrastructure enhancements initiated around May 2025. The state government of NRW is consulted for its assessment, but the federal government is not bound by it.

The anticipated transport of nuclear waste from Jülich to Ahaus will have significant implications for surrounding industries, particularly the environmental-science industry, as it brings renewed attention to climate-change issues and the need for safer energy alternatives.
As the transport routes remain secret for security reasons, there may be a need for public-transit adjustments in the affected areas to ensure the safety of commuters and the general public.
The commencement of these transports may spark additional discussions in the industry and finance sectors, as investors weigh the potential risks and benefits of investing in real-estate near nuclear facilities or alternative energy sources like wind and solar.
The ongoing nuclear logistics activity in the region, such as the Castor transports from Gronau, could lead to advancements in the science and technology field, contributing to further research and development in transportation and engineering.
The decision to prioritize the transport of Castors to Ahaus, rather than constructing a new, earthquake-resistant intermediate storage facility in Jülich, could have long-term environmental-science and climate-change implications due to the potential risks associated with nuclear waste storage.
While the transportation of nuclear waste can be seen as a step backward from progressive environmental-science initiatives, it also presents an opportunity to invest in the development and implementation of cleaner, renewable energy solutions, such as solar and wind power, thereby reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating the effects of climate change.