# Cigéo, the planned deep geological storage centre for radioactive waste. Publisher: CapexCue Canonical dossier: Dossier reference: release 1 (ebca0934-98aa-43d3-8cad-ec919fd4c383) Released project intelligence Oldest supporting observation: 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 Dossier released: 2026-10-16T07:16:59.047713+00:00 Source report dates and capture dates are listed per fact below; neither establishes an event date. ## Project summary Cigéo — planned deep geological radioactive-waste repository Cigéo is a planned deep geological repository for France’s high-activity (HA) and long-lived intermediate-activity (MA-VL) radioactive waste. The environmental assessment describes its purpose as long-term passive containment and identifies it as the reference management solution for these waste categories. The project is located at Saudron in Haute-Marne and Bure in Meuse, on the boundary between the departments. Andra is identified as the principal project owner and is responsible for the repository layout, engineered components and authorization-related procedures. The plan is progressive and reversible, with construction, an industrial pilot phase, operation and eventual post-closure storage. In the environmental authority’s opinion dated 18 December 2025, construction was described as the principal activity over the next 30 years; operation was expected to span generations, and the first waste packages were not expected before at least 25 years from the assessment. These are planning horizons, not confirmed start dates. At the assessment date, the project had been declared of public utility in 2022 and had received environmental authorization on 11 July 2025 for initial characterization and environmental-surveillance operations. The separate creation-authorization application was under review; a creation decree was forecast for 2028. The authority’s opinion is neither favorable nor unfavorable to the project. ## Evidence limits and unknowns - The 18 December 2025 opinion forecast a creation decree in 2028; the supplied evidence does not confirm whether it was issued afterward or whether construction has begun. - The supplied extracts do not establish procurement arrangements, contractors, awarded work packages, final implementation dates, or secured funding amounts and provisioning arrangements. - This summary is based on selected text from pages 2–12 and 60–61 of the 61-page opinion; pages 13–59 and graphical content were not interpreted. Current purchasing availability: unknown. Source-dated plans do not establish current progress or available supplier packages. ## Project metadata Country: France Region: Europe Physical assets: Not classified Derived from the exact released evidence; unresolved fields remain unclassified. ## Project category Water and environment Derived from the reviewed scope statement; delivery stage remains unclassified. A deep geological repository intended for high-activity (HA) and long-lived intermediate-activity (MA-VL) radioactive waste. The described design includes underground galleries and disposal cells, with connections between surface and underground facilities. The assessment distinguishes the repository project from its successive construction, operation and post-closure phases. Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 Project overview Oldest decisive evidence: 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 Newest evidence: 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 Knowledge reviewed: 2026-10-16T07:16:57.789314+00:00 Publication reviewed: 2026-10-16T07:16:57.789314+00:00 ## Name Cigéo, the planned deep geological storage centre for radioactive waste. Status: reported Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Scope A deep geological repository intended for high-activity (HA) and long-lived intermediate-activity (MA-VL) radioactive waste. The described design includes underground galleries and disposal cells, with connections between surface and underground facilities. The assessment distinguishes the repository project from its successive construction, operation and post-closure phases. Status: reported Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Country France. Status: reported Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Ecology The environmental assessment identifies long-term safety after closure, possible radioactive contamination of the environment including water, human exposure following radioactive-substance dispersal, and protection of natural environments and biodiversity as principal issues. These are identified concerns, not findings that such impacts have occurred. Status: reported Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Activity The stated purpose is long-term, passive containment of HA and MA-VL radioactive waste in deep geological storage. The assessment says Cigéo is intended as the French reference management solution for these waste categories. Status: planned Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Delivery The plan is progressive and reversible. The assessment describes the next 30 years primarily as a major construction period, followed by industrial operation spanning generations and, eventually, passive storage after closure. It also describes an industrial pilot phase. The first waste packages are not expected before at least 25 years from the assessment; these are stated planning horizons, not confirmed start dates. Status: planned Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Location At Saudron in Haute-Marne (department 52) and Bure in Meuse (department 55), at the boundary between the two departments. Status: reported Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Developer The Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs (Andra) is identified as the principal project owner. It defined the repository layout, designed the engineered components, and is responsible for procedures relating to project authorization, environmental assessment and the overall safety demonstration. Status: reported Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Regulatory Declared of public utility in 2022. An environmental authorization was granted on 11 July 2025 on the basis of the DR0 file for initial characterization and environmental-surveillance operations; this is distinct from the creation authorization needed to start construction. The creation-authorization application was under review by the nuclear safety authority at the assessment date; the ASNR opinion of 25 November 2025 preceded a creation decree then expected in 2028. The assessment is an environmental authority opinion and is neither favorable nor unfavorable to the project. Status: reported Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Next Milestone The creation decree was expected in 2028 in the assessment, following the ASNR opinion; the source states that creation authorization is needed before construction can start. This is a forecast in the 2025 assessment, not confirmation that the decree was subsequently issued. Status: planned Attribution: IGEDD Autorité environnementale opinion: authority synthesis and attributed developer facts Source: IGEDD environmental authority native opinion text — https://www.igedd.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/IMG/pdf/4_-_demande_d_autorisation_de_creation_du_centre_de_stockage_de_dechets_radioactifs_cigeo_cle0153dd.pdf | published unknown | observed 2026-10-02T19:26:33.515838+00:00 ## Cite this dossier CapexCue — Cigéo, the planned deep geological storage centre for radioactive waste. — dossier released 2026-10-16T07:16:59.047713+00:00, release 1 (ebca0934-98aa-43d3-8cad-ec919fd4c383) — https://capexcue.com/projects/cigeo-the-planned-deep-geological-storage-centre-for-radioactive-waste-023c1b91e096a2b7/. For current information and later dossier updates, visit . This file records the release identified above; the current dossier may change.