Dismantling and backfilling the horizontal areas of the mine
BGE (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH)
ARGE Backfilling Gorleben
Gorleben, Germany
2023
until approx. 2026
In August 2023, REDPATH DEILMANN and a partner were awarded the contract to backfill the Gorleben exploration mine. The contract includes backfilling the horizontal areas of the mine. The aim is to close the mine safely and restore it to its original state (green field).
The above-ground salt pile that was created during the excavation is being removed. The salt is used as backfill material for backfilling the mine workings. Around 340,000 tons of material will be removed, loaded and transported underground. There it is temporarily stored and then transported to the backfilling area using dump trucks. A chain loader distributes the salt. This method minimizes the impact on the environment and contributes to sustainable closure.
In 1977, the Gorleben salt dome was proposed as a potential repository site. Construction work began in the 1980s. In 1986, the first bucket was extracted from shaft Gorleben 1. A total of around 8 kilometers of drifts and numerous boreholes were drilled for exploration. However, due to political decisions and moratoriums, operations were interrupted several times and finally stopped for good in 2013.
The Gorleben exploration mine is located in the district of Lüchow-Dannenberg in Lower Saxony. It was set up to explore the Gorleben salt dome as a potential site for a repository for radioactive waste. However, due to geoscientific assessment criteria, Gorleben was ruled out as a repository site in 2020.
The mine's overburden is water-bearing and unstable down to a depth of 250 m. Below this, a salt dome extends to a depth of 3,500 m. Strict radiation protection and mining regulations apply to the work in order to ensure safety and environmental protection.
The backfilling of the mine workings comprises approx. 248,000 m³. This includes planning services, the dismantling of technical facilities and the transportation of the dump material underground. More than 300,000 tons of material will be safely installed. High safety requirements have to be met.
Recycling the salt dump as backfill material supports the goal of restoring the original state (green field). The use of existing resources minimizes environmental pollution. Strict regulations ensure that the work is carried out in a sustainable and environmentally friendly manner.
