A Chinese team has finished constructing a steep spiral ramp leading to the underground Beishan Laboratory, where nuclear waste will be secured for thousands of years. Located in the Gobi Desert, the facility represents a key milestone in handling high-level radioactive waste.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) has announced the completion of a steep spiral ramp for the Beishan Underground Research Laboratory. The facility, situated in the Gobi Desert near Jiuquan in Gansu province, is designed to bury high-level nuclear waste 500 to 1,000 metres (1,640 to 3,280 feet) underground, ensuring isolation for thousands of years.
Wang Ju, chief scientist at CNNC and the laboratory's chief designer, stated in a company report: “Nuclear energy is a clean and efficient power source, with about 99 per cent of the radioactive waste it produces classified as low- or intermediate-level, decaying to harmless levels over time.” He noted that deep burial is the best solution for high-level waste, often called “the final link in the nuclear industry chain”.
The project involved collaboration with China Railway Construction Heavy Industry Corporation, the Beijing Research Institute of Uranium Geology, and the National Atomic Energy Agency. The Beishan laboratory will serve as a platform for international knowledge exchange on nuclear waste management. “Every country has its own unique strategies for managing nuclear waste,” Wang said. “Through the Beishan platform, we will exchange knowledge – bringing in global best practices and sharing our own findings with the world.”
This milestone underscores China's advancements in clean energy, reinforcing the role of nuclear power while prioritizing secure waste disposal.
