US-based Jacobs has been awarded a contract by Germany’s federal radioactive waste disposal company, Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH (BGE), to provide project support services for the Konrad Repository in Salzgitter, Germany. This initiative transforms a former iron ore mine into the country’s first licensed final repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste under nuclear law.
Under the contract, Jacobs will deliver advisory services focused on strengthening schedule accuracy, cost reliability, and overall execution. The core objectives include:
- Progress assessment: evaluating existing construction processes and assessing overall development.
- Planning validation: reviewing and updating timelines, validating planning assumptions, and adjusting cost plans.
- Efficiency optimisation: developing and implementing continuous efficiency improvements.
- Complexity management: navigating complex technical, structural, seismic, and regulatory requirements spanning both mining and nuclear regulations.
As construction progresses, the project faces complex technical and regulatory requirements, including work within existing structures, seismic considerations and compliance with mining and nuclear regulations. Jacobs will support alignment of construction activities, timelines and cost structures with on-site realities while incorporating best practices from comparable large-scale infrastructure programmes.
The project carries immense social and infrastructural weight for Germany. By leveraging Jacobs’ international experience, including over two decades of supporting complex nuclear sites such as Sellafield in the UK and active waste treatment projects in Belgium, BGE aims to integrate global best practices to ensure predictable and secure project delivery.
“Delivering complex infrastructure projects in Germany requires a strong understanding of local regulatory frameworks, construction practices and site conditions,” said Jacobs Executive Vice President Fiachra Ó Cléirigh. “By combining on-the-ground insight with global project delivery experience, our team is helping BGE strengthen alignment between planning and execution while supporting efficient, predictable outcomes.”
BGE Technical Managing Director Jürgen Korth noted: “We appreciate that we have found very experienced senior advisors with expertise in construction management and schedule management over a public tender offer. They support our team in the implementation of our very challenging project – the conversion of an existing mine into Germany’s first final repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste approved under nuclear law.
Konrad is explicitly licensed to store up to 303,000 cubic metres of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste with negligible heat generation. The storage areas are situated deep underground, primarily at depths between 800 and 1,300 metres. Konrad is exceptionally dry. It is covered by a layer of Cretaceous claystone and marlstone 160-400 metres thick. This prevents surface groundwater from mixing with the repository zones
The site is located in a tectonically undisturbed zone, meaning the local rock formations have remained stable for millions of years. BGE projects the site will securely contain the waste for at least a million years.
The waste scheduled for Konrad does not generate significant heat. It consists of tools, laboratory equipment, protective clothing, and structural materials resulting from the operation and ongoing decommissioning of German commercial nuclear power plants; dismantling debris from former East German (GDR) nuclear power facilities and research reactors; and waste from universities, research facilities, and medical industries across Germany.
Once emplaced in underground caverns, the storage containers will be backfilled and permanently immobilised using custom concrete mixes.
From 1965-1976, Konrad operated as an active iron ore mine until extraction became economically unviable. A rigorous 20-year planning approval and licensing process took place from1982 to 2002. In 2007, the Federal Administrative Court confirmed the validity of the licence, clearing final legal challenges and construction work began.
The structural conversion remains highly complex, involving the complete reinforcement of Shafts 1 and 2, digging out transport galleries, and erecting an above-ground waste reloading hall. Construction has faced delays, pushing the targeted completion of construction to the end of 2029, with waste emplacement operations scheduled to begin in the early 2030s.
