Czech lower house backs amendment to speed construction of nuclear waste repository

A law aimed at speeding up preparations for the construction of a deep geological repository for radioactive waste won initial backing from the Chamber of Deputies today. According to the government, the legislation expands the rights of affected municipalities in individual proceedings and adjusts deadlines. The municipalities concerned consider the expansion of their powers insufficient, and MPs may yet meet their demands. The Ministry of Industry and Trade rejected the possibility of giving municipalities veto rights, saying their interests cannot outweigh those of the state.

„The municipalities’ persistent demand for an absolute veto over the selection of a site for a deep geological repository, along the lines of Scandinavian countries, is not feasible under Czech conditions,“ Industry and Trade Minister Jozef Síkela (for STAN) told MPs.

He said the law should enshrine the right of affected municipalities to express their views, which would be one of the materials considered in the decision on where to locate the repository. That decision would also require the approval of both chambers of Parliament. The repository is necessary to preserve nuclear power as one of the pillars of the Czech energy sector, the minister said.