EU agrees on plan to dispose of radioactive waste

Brussels, Belgium — ESI-AFRICA.COM — 20 July 2011 – European Union ministers have agreed to a pan-European plan for the future disposal of radioactive waste from the 143 nuclear reactors spread through the various member countries of the union.

Reuters reports that the new rules will force national nuclear authorities to draw up disposal plans by 2015, which will then be vetted by the energy commissioner of the union, Guenther Oettinger.

The 14 European Union member states using nuclear power currently store their radioactive waste in bunkers or warehouses for decades while it cools down.