NEA Director General William D. Magwood, IV, delivers opening remarks.
Over the past two decades, the safety case has become a powerful and essential tool to support decision making for every stage of a geological disposal programme. It presents the underlying evidence and methods used, growing confidence in the scientific and institutional processes and the results of the analyses.
As an increasing number of national programmes are advancing towards licencing and realising their deep geological repositories (DGRs) for high-level radioactive waste, the NEA organised the Safety Case Symposium 2024 in Budapest, Hungary, from 8-11 October. Nearly 200 experts gathered to discuss the role of safety cases in managing radioactive waste, a key aspect of global nuclear energy expansion. Hosted by Public Limited Company for Radioactive Waste Management (PURAM), the event emphasised the move toward practical implementation of DGRs. NEA Director-General William D. Magwood, IV and Dr Márk Alföldy-Boruss, Deputy State Secretary of Ministry of Energy of Hungary, opened the event. In his opening remarks, Director-General Magwood highlighted the importance of safe waste disposal for the future of nuclear energy, noting, “Radioactive waste is not a problem yet to be solved. It is a responsibility. And it is one that we know well how to address.”
Dr Márk Alföldy-Boruss, Deputy State Secretary of Ministry of Energy of Hungary opens the symposium.
During the symposium, discussions highlighted the importance of safety cases — comprehensive technical evaluations that ensure the long-term safety of DGRs —at all stages of geological disposal programmes. These safety cases serve as the backbone for regulatory decisions and public confidence. The symposium provided a platform for Finland, Sweden, and France - countries that are advancing DGR projects - to share their experiences. A significant portion of the discussions revolved around addressing uncertainties, integrating monitoring technologies into repository designs, and leveraging advancements in digital tools to improve safety assessments. The symposium also included sessions on disposal of unconventional and legacy waste and waste from next-generation reactors. This year’s edition invited young professionals who had the chance to exchange with senior experts, share their experiences, and give feedback on all the technical sessions from their point of view.
The symposium programme included a site visit to Hungary's Bátaapáti Repository, offering participants a practical perspective on underground waste management and reinforcing the importance of combining technical expertise with transparent public engagement.
By the conclusion of the event, the Safety Case Symposium 2024 had advanced discussions on DGR safety case, public engagement, and the evolving safety frameworks needed to support nuclear waste management in the coming decades. The symposium reiterated the need for continued innovation, regulatory adaptation, and international partnerships to ensure that the nuclear industry’s growth is matched with robust and reliable waste disposal solutions.
The Safety Case Symposium 2024 featured oral and poster presentations.
NEA’s work on the safety case
The NEA has been working on the topic of the safety case for several decades. Since 2000, the NEA Integration Group for the Safety Case (IGSC) has identified, documented and evaluated the structure and content of safety cases for deep geological repositories and established consensus positions on good practices in their development while putting safety at the core of the proposed facility. The group's work has been a testament to the progress that can be achieved through international co-operation, as the symposium showcased.
The symposium was the fourth in a series the IGSC has been organising since 2007, in co‑operation with other international organisations.
Nearly 200 experts gathered at the Safety Case Symposium 2024
