IAEA and ITA Collaborate to Advance Geological Disposal Facilities for Radioactive Waste

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the International Tunnelling and Underground Space Association (ITA) recently met in Vienna to explore future collaboration in the development of Geological Disposal Facilities (GDFs) for high-activity radioactive waste.

The IAEA delegation, led by Olena Mykolaichuk, Director of the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology, held discussions with Daniel Garbutt, Arnold Dix, Helen Roth, and Andrea Pigorini from the ITA. The meeting builds on the IAEA’s recent work, developed with significant support from the ITA, which produced a draft publication focused on managing the transition to underground access for GDFs. The work was led by Gerald Nieder-Westermann, Scientific Secretary and IAEA officer in the Division of Nuclear Fuel Cycle and Waste Technology and is currently in the publication process.

Acknowledging the importance of aligning safety considerations with the practical realities of underground construction, the ITA will continue to collaborate with the IAEA to advance safe, technically sound, and sustainable solutions for radioactive waste disposal.

To this end, the ITA has launched a dedicated Special Interest Group, established in close cooperation with the IAEA, to help the industry better understand the specific requirements of GDF development. Through this initiative, both organisations will provide Member States with the knowledge and technical support needed to effectively deliver and maintain the underground infrastructure required for the safe disposal of radioactive waste.

“For ITA, this initiative represents a significant opportunity to contribute our global expertise in underground engineering to one of the most critical and enduring tasks of our time,” said Andrea Pigorini, President of ITA. “We are committed to applying our underground expertise to help shape solutions that will protect people and the planet for generations to come.”

The IAEA publication that forms the foundation for this collaboration highlights the critical stage when programs transition from surface investigations to underground access—requiring close integration of scientific, technical, and sociopolitical considerations. This work will help bridge the gap between safety cases and engineering realities, underlining the importance of engaging with the tunnelling and underground construction community.

The ITA initiative will foster cross-border knowledge exchange, promote best practices in underground construction, and support repository designs that serve future generations. The ITA is proud to announce Arnold Dix, a Past President of ITA, as Chair of the new initiative, bringing capable leadership and extensive experience to this vital effort.

The ITA remains committed to advancing safe and resilient underground solutions and looks forward to working with the IAEA to support the international community in the successful development of Geological Disposal Facilities worldwide.