China moves closer to opening deep geological nuclear waste laboratory

China has made significant progress in developing its Beishan Underground Research Laboratory, a deep geological facility designed for the permanent disposal of nuclear waste. Located about 1,837 feet beneath the Gobi Desert in Gansu province, the laboratory features a complex spiral access ramp stretching 4.3 miles with a 10 percent slope, constructed through extremely hard granite rock. This facility, developed by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), aims to address the critical challenge of safely isolating high-level radioactive waste, which constitutes about one percent of nuclear waste and requires secure containment for hundreds of thousands of years. The Beishan project represents nearly three decades of research and engineering innovation, including extensive geological assessments and the development of specialized tunneling technology. The Beishan No. 1 boring machine, independently developed in China, was crucial for drilling through the hard rock and navigating the tunnel’s tight curves and steep gradients. CNNC emphasizes that the laboratory will not only support China’s nuclear safety strategy but