Cigéo Project Overview of the French High‐Level Long‐Lived Radioactive Waste Disposal Concept and Corrosion Research

ABSTRACT Andra (French National Agency for Radioactive Waste Management) is responsible for identifying, implementing and guaranteeing safe management solutions for all French radioactive waste. The Cigéo project is the underground facility located in a geological layer, designed to dispose of high and intermediate‐level long‐lived radioactive waste produced by French facilities. The Cigéo disposal will be in operation for around 100 years. For over 30 years, Andra has been carrying out research and development work to support the design of a safe facility over this exploitation period and far beyond it, confining radioactivity to protect man and environment. In the context of the high‐level waste cells, R&D work is among others studying the evolution of the main metallic components, the casing and the overpack, under the combined effect of corrosion and mechanical processes. The aim is to identify the most robust and durable materials. Andra performed using several measurement techniques corrosion tests in laboratories and in a deep geological laboratory in various environments (temperature, oxygen…) representative of the future Cigéo disposal.