Bundesgesellschaft für Endlager

What Bundesgesellschaft für Endlager does

Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) is a wholly federal government-owned company (Bundesgesellschaft mbH) of the Federal Republic of Germany, headquartered in Peine, Lower Saxony. Established in 2017, BGE holds the exclusive legal mandate to manage radioactive waste disposal in Germany, operating under the supervision of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). Its mission covers the full lifecycle of radioactive waste: operating existing repositories (Konrad for low- and intermediate-level waste, licensed at 303,000 m³ capacity; Morsleben, currently decommissioning with 36,754 m³ in storage), retrieving legacy waste (approximately 47,000 m³ from the Asse II mine, a globally unique decommissioning project), closing legacy sites (Gorleben), and conducting the nationwide, science-based site selection procedure (Standortauswahlverfahren) for a high-level radioactive waste repository with a one-million-year safety horizon.

BGE's operational core is its portfolio of underground mine sites — former salt and iron ore mines converted or being converted for geological disposal of radioactive waste — combined with continuous geomechanical monitoring (convergence measurements, rock stress monitoring, stabilization), 3D seismic surveys, and detailed 3D geological modeling. Digital infrastructure includes the BGE Endlagersuche Navigator (a web-based GIS application on Esri mapping technology that makes siting-region data publicly visible), the Nuclear Waste Logistics Platform (nwl.bge.de), the GST Web 3D model viewer, and the Conference on Sub-areas Database. BGE holds integrated management system certification under ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 50001, and EMAS, and operates physical info-centers with VR-guided mine tours at Asse, Konrad, and Morsleben for public engagement. Its technology partnerships include AWS (cloud hosting on German servers), Esri (mapping), SAP SuccessFactors (applicant management), and subreport (procurement), with research collaboration at Switzerland's Mont Terri Rock Laboratory.

BGE's business model is non-commercial: as a federally mandated entity, it is funded through the German federal budget with cost recovery from waste producers, and does not offer commercial products or pricing. Its sole customer is the German Federal Government. The company has 1,001–5,000 employees, is led by a Management Board chaired by Iris Graffunder with Marlis Koop and Jürgen Korth, and operates under the oversight of a Supervisory Board chaired by Parliamentary State Secretary Rita Schwarzelühr-Sutter. Revenue figures are not publicly disclosed.

Name

Bundesgesellschaft für Endlager

Legal name

Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung mbH

Website

https://bge.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung (BGE) is Germany's wholly federally-owned company responsible for radioactive waste disposal, operating repositories (Konrad, Morsleben), retrieving legacy waste (Asse II), and conducting the nationwide site selection for a high-level waste repository, funded through the federal budget.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radioactive Waste Disposal

NAICS

Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Remediation Services (562910)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Nuclear Waste Management & Geological Disposal (EUACADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Repository siting & site investigations (geology, hydrogeology, seismic, EIA support) (EUAKAGAF), Performance assessment, safety case & long-term monitoring (modeling, PA/SR, instrumentation) (EUAKAGAJ), Regulatory compliance, licensing & stakeholder engagement for disposal (permits, public consultation, communications) (EUAKAGAK)

Keywords

• Radioactive waste disposal
• Geological repository operation
• Repository site selection
• Nuclear waste decommissioning
• Underground mine management

Headquarters

HQ city

Peine

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding / Public Mandate: BGE is a wholly government-owned federal company (Bundesgesellschaft) financed through the federal budget. Its operations — repository search, disposal facility operation, decommissioning, and waste retrieval — are funded by the German federal government as a public mandate. BGE publishes annual reports and financial statements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

BGE is Germany's federally mandated operator for radioactive waste disposal, managing the Konrad and Morsleben repositories, retrieving legacy waste from the Asse II mine, closing the Gorleben mine, and conducting the nationwide science-based site selection procedure for a high-level waste repository. Its offering is a public-mandate service — not a commercial product — delivered through underground mine infrastructure, geological exploration, radiological safety monitoring, and large-scale public participation programs.

Product overview

BGE (Bundesgesellschaft für Endlagerung) operates as a government-owned company managing Germany's radioactive waste disposal infrastructure. Its portfolio consists of four operational or near-operational sites: the Konrad Repository (being converted into Germany's first licensed repository for low- and intermediate-level waste, capacity 303,000 m³), the Morsleben Repository (a decommissioning salt mine that received 36,754 m³ of waste), the Asse II Mine (a former salt mine where ~47,000 m³ of waste was emplaced and must be retrieved), and the Gorleben Mine (being closed). In parallel, BGE conducts the nationwide repository site selection procedure for high-level radioactive waste. Digital products supporting these operations include the BGE Endlagersuche Navigator (a web map application for public viewing of siting-region data), the Conference on Sub-areas Database, the GST Web 3D model viewer, a Whistleblower System, and physical Info Centres with VR-based virtual mine tours.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Konrad Repository Deep geological repository for low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste with negligible heat generation. A former iron ore mine in Salzgitter being converted by BGE into Germany's first licensed disposal facility, with a licensed capacity of 303,000 m³. Built for the German Federal Government under the federal mandate for radioactive waste disposal.
• Morsleben Repository (Decommissioning) Decommissioning and long-term closure of the former potash and rock salt mine in Ingersleben (Morsleben), which received 36,754 m³ of low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste between 1971 and 1998. BGE is permanently closing the repository with its existing inventory under the federal mandate.
• Asse II Mine — Legacy Waste Retrieval and Closure Retrieval and management of approximately 47,000 m³ of legacy low- and intermediate-level radioactive waste emplaced in the Asse II salt mine between 1967 and 1978. BGE is developing a dedicated retrieval mine (Rückholbergwerk), a new shaft, and waste treatment/interim storage facilities — a globally unique decommissioning project under the federal mandate.
• Repository Search / Site Selection Procedure (Standortauswahlverfahren) National, science-based, participatory site selection procedure for a deep geological repository for high-level radioactive waste in Germany. Multi-phase process (Phase I sub-areas, Phase I Step 2 siting regions, etc.) with a stated safety horizon of one million years. Executed by BGE for the Federal Government.
• BGE Endlagersuche Navigator (Public GIS Web Application) Web-based GIS application (navigator.bge.de) that makes BGE's work steps and preliminary results of the repository site selection publicly visible. Built on Esri Story Maps and Survey123, it displays maps with accompanying multimedia content for Phase I Step 2 siting regions.
• Conference on Sub-areas Database Publicly accessible online database containing data, notes, comments, and questions regarding the site selection procedure and the Sub-areas Interim Report, enabling citizens to trace how results of the Conference on Sub-areas are handled.
• Info Centres and VR-Guided Mine Tours Physical info centres at the Asse, Konrad, and Morsleben sites offering exhibitions, information materials, and VR-guided 360-degree virtual tours of the underground mine facilities for public visitors and stakeholders.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• BIK (Barrierefreiheit, Information und Kommunikation) IT-ConsultingminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerBIK conducted a BITV/WCAG accessibility audit of the BGE website on 10 March 2020, evaluating compliance with the Federal Ordinance on Barrier-free Information Technology (BITV 2.0). The audit was commissioned by Consulting Piezunka & Schamoni Information Technologies GmbH.
• Amazon Web Services EMEA SARLcoreTechnology or IntegrationBGE hosts its websites (bge.de), Matomo analytics, and the 3D model viewer (GST Web application) on AWS infrastructure. Server locations are in Germany. AWS provides the cloud infrastructure for the Conference on Sub-areas Database and the Nuclear Waste Logistics platform (nwl.bge.de).
• Esri Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationEsri provides mapping technology (Story Maps and Survey123) used in the BGE Repository Search Navigator and website. Integrated via a 'double-click solution' for data protection compliance.
• subreport Verlag Schawe GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationBGE publishes tender invitations via subreport's online platform (subreport-elvis.de). A contract processing relationship (Art. 28 GDPR) exists between BGE and subreport for procurement procedures.
• SAP SuccessFactorscoreTechnology or IntegrationBGE uses SAP SuccessFactors for its online applicant management system for job applications. A full data protection declaration is provided before application submission.
• Nationales Begleitgremium (NBG)coreOthersThe National Accompanying Committee (NBG) is a civil society body that participates in and monitors the repository site selection process. It includes citizen representatives and young generation members who contribute to public trust in the process.
• Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS)coreOthersThe BfS is the federal authority that originally held oversight of nuclear facilities and transferred responsibilities to BGE. BGE collaborates with BfS on radiological safety and monitoring. Copyright for some BGE website content belongs to BfS.
• Mont Terri Rock Laboratory (Switzerland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBGE participates in research at the Mont Terri rock laboratory in Switzerland, studying Opalinus Clay as a potential host rock for nuclear waste repositories. BGE publishes articles about this international research collaboration.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NAGRA (Nationale Genossenschaft für die Lagerung radioaktiver Abfälle): Swiss cooperative responsible for deep geological disposal of radioactive waste, with active siting for a high-level waste repository in Opalinus Clay. NAGRA's mandate, technical approach (geological siting, performance assessment), and multi-decade program structure closely mirror BGE's repository search and Konrad/Morsleben operations.
• Posiva Oy: Finnish joint venture (TVO and Fortum) operating the Onkalo spent fuel repository in Olkiluoto — the world's first licensed geological repository for high-level waste. Posiva's KBS-3 method is the international reference case for BGE's site selection work.
• ANDRA (Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs): France's national radioactive waste management agency, operating the Cigéo deep geological repository project and the Centre de stockage de l'Aube surface facility. ANDRA is the closest functional analogue to BGE — both are state-mandated national agencies responsible for long-term geological disposal of LLW/ILW/HLW with extensive public-participation programs.
• SKB (Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB): Swedish company responsible for managing and disposing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste, with the Forsmark KBS-3 repository under construction. SKB operates the same combination of operational repository (Clab/SFR), decommissioning sites, and high-level waste siting that defines BGE's portfolio.
• NUMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan): Japanese organization tasked with implementing geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste, currently in the volunteer-siting phase. NUMO faces analogous public engagement and site-selection challenges to BGE's Standortauswahlverfahren.
• NWMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization, Canada): Canadian not-for-profit responsible for implementing Canada's plan for the long-term management of used nuclear fuel, including site selection for a deep geological repository in crystalline rock. NWMO's adaptive phased management and community-partnership model is conceptually adjacent to BGE's approach.
• ONDRAF/NIRAS: Belgian federal agency for radioactive waste management, responsible for surface disposal and the planned deep geological repository in poorly indurated Boom Clay. ONDRAF's scope (LLW/ILW storage, HLW siting, decommissioning oversight) directly parallels BGE's mandate.

Regional players

• ENRESA (Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos): Spanish national radioactive waste management company operating the El Cabril disposal facility and managing the centralized interim storage facility for high-level waste. Operates in a different jurisdiction but with similar portfolio scope to BGE.
• Nuclear Waste Services (UK): UK government organization (formed from the merger of RWM and LLW Repository Ltd) responsible for implementing geological disposal of higher-activity waste and operating the Low Level Waste Repository. Compares to BGE as a national waste agency, but serves a separate regulatory and geological regime.

Others

• Gesellschaft für Nuklearservice (GNS): German provider of nuclear waste management services including conditioning, packaging, transport, and interim storage, owned by German utilities. While not a repository operator, GNS is a key ecosystem partner for BGE in the German nuclear waste value chain and a credible indirect comparable.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights1 record

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/dieBGE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/die-bge

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Bundesgesellschaft für Endlager