Ondraf/niras Belgian Agency For Radioactive Waste And Enriched Fissile Materials

What Ondraf/niras Belgian Agency For Radioactive Waste And Enriched Fissile Materials does

ONDRAF/NIRAS is the Belgian national agency for radioactive waste and enriched fissile materials, established by federal law in 1980. It is solely responsible under statutory mandate for the safe management and ultimate disposal of all radioactive waste produced in Belgium, serving nuclear power operators (Electrabel/Engie at the Doel and Tihange plants), medical and research institutions (IRE, hospitals, SCK CEN), the Belgian federal government, and—through a bilateral arrangement—the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The agency operates through a vertically integrated portfolio: collection and conditioning at its wholly-owned industrial subsidiary Belgoprocess (Dessel), a surface storage facility under construction at Dessel (34 modules, 350-year passive safety lifecycle, €2.6B total cost), deep geological storage research at the HADES underground laboratory in Mol (225m depth in Boom Clay, operated via the EURIDICE joint venture with SCK CEN since 1995), and decontamination/dismantling services exemplified by the 300-tonne CGR cyclotron project at Fleurus. Revenue mechanics are driven by the polluter-pays principle (pollueur-payeur), whereby waste producers bear all management and disposal costs through fees to ONDRAF, complemented by triennial opinions to the Commission for Nuclear Provisions which oversees approximately €6 billion in decommissioning and spent-fuel provisions. The organization employs approximately 200 staff (2025 annual report), up from 169 in 2022, with a stabilization target of ~250 employees, and conducts no commercial sales activity—services are delivered through legal mandate rather than market transactions.

Name

Ondraf/niras Belgian Agency For Radioactive Waste And Enriched Fissile Materials

Legal name

ONDRAF (Organisme National des Déchets Radioactifs et des Matières Fissiles Enrichies)

Website

https://ondraf.be

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Belgian federal government agency established in 1980 to manage, treat, and dispose of all radioactive waste in Belgium, serving nuclear operators, medical institutions, and research centers under the polluter-pays principle.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Radioactive Waste Management

NAICS

Hazardous Waste Treatment and Disposal (562211), Hazardous Waste Collection (562112), Remediation and Other Waste Management Services (5629), Waste Treatment and Disposal (56221)

SIC

Hazardous Waste Management (4955)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) Development, Licensing & Operations (EUAKAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hazardous Waste Landfill & Secure Disposal (RCRA Subtitle C) (BPALAFAF), Chemical Hazardous Waste Collection & Transportation (BPALAHAA), Onsite Medical Waste Management Systems (Equipment, Service, Compliance) (BPALAGAJ)

Keywords

• Radioactive waste management
• Nuclear waste disposal
• Geological storage research
• Nuclear facility decommissioning
• Spent fuel management

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Radioactive Waste Management Fees: ONDRAF charges radioactive waste producers (nuclear operators, medical institutions, research facilities) fees for the safe management and disposal of radioactive waste. The polluter-pays principle obligates waste producers to cover all costs of waste management and disposal.
2. Nuclear Decommissioning Services: ONDRAF charges for nuclear facility decommissioning and dismantling services, as demonstrated with the Best Medical Belgium (Fleurus) site takeover and the Fleurus cyclotron dismantling project.
3. Nuclear Provisions Oversight: ONDRAF provides triennial opinions to the Commission for Nuclear Provisions, which controls the establishment and management of provisions for decommissioning nuclear power plants and managing spent fuel. Costs are passed through to waste producers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

ONDRAF is the Belgian federal agency legally mandated to safely manage and provide final disposal for all radioactive waste in Belgium. It collects waste from producers, treats and conditions it via subsidiary Belgoprocess at Dessel, develops surface storage (Dessel) and deep geological storage (Boom Clay) solutions, and conducts nuclear facility decommissioning and dismantling services. It also runs the HADES underground research laboratory at Mol and the Tabloo visitor center, funded under the polluter-pays principle.

Product overview

ONDRAF is Belgium's national agency for radioactive waste and enriched fissile materials, established in 1980. The organization operates as a unified portfolio of services centered on the safe management of radioactive waste throughout its lifecycle. Core offerings include waste collection and conditioning through subsidiary Belgoprocess in Dessel, surface storage facilities for low and medium activity waste, deep geological storage research via the HADES underground laboratory at Mol, and dismantling services for decommissioned nuclear installations. The organization also operates Tabloo visitor center and conducts extensive research programs including the PRACLAY heating experiment. The surface storage facility at Dessel represents the first such installation in Belgium, authorized in 2023 with construction commencing in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tabloo: Visitor and meeting center in Dessel featuring interactive exhibition on radioactivity and radioactive waste management
• HADES
• PRACLAY

Products and services

• Radioactive Waste Management Services Collection, transport, treatment, conditioning in drums, and temporary storage of all radioactive waste produced in Belgium, executed via the Belgoprocess industrial subsidiary at Dessel. Waste is transported by specialized companies from producers (nuclear operators, hospitals, research institutions) and processed in adapted buildings. Serves all Belgian radioactive waste producers under statutory mandate.
• Surface Storage Facility at Dessel First surface storage facility in Belgium for low and medium activity short-lived radioactive waste, comprising concrete modules (bunkers) with 70cm reinforced concrete floors designed to withstand extreme weather, earthquakes, and flooding. 34 modules planned with 350-year passive safety lifecycle. Two green tumuli (20m high) will serve as permanent cover after closure.
• Deep Geological Storage Solution (Design and Development) Designed deep geological storage facility for high activity and/or long-lived radioactive waste, to be placed several hundred meters deep in stable geological clay formations. Designed as a passive system requiring no human intervention after closure, with reversibility provisions. Project execution spans several decades with cost estimated at 12 billion EUR (2022 update).
• Nuclear Facility Decommissioning and Dismantling Services Decontamination and dismantling services for decommissioned nuclear installations, including management of resulting radioactive waste. Capabilities include diamond wire saw cutting technology for large activated equipment (used for the 300-tonne CGR cyclotron at Fleurus) and robotic arm in sealed glove box for highly contaminated zones (JEDI zone decontamination with strontium-90). Demonstrated capability to valorize 195 tonnes of cyclotron steel for recycling with only 14 tonnes classified as radioactive waste.
• HADES Underground Research Laboratory Services Underground research laboratory located at 225 meters depth in the Boom Clay layer at Mol, operational for over 40 years and managed by ONDRAF in collaboration with SCK CEN under the EURIDICE joint venture. Dedicated to research on deep geological storage of high-level and/or long-lived radioactive waste, hosting experiments including PRACLAY heating experiment.
• Tabloo Visitor and Meeting Center Interactive discovery center in Dessel featuring exhibitions on radioactivity, radioactive waste management, and nuclear research. Includes workshops, lab sessions, conference facilities, and walking access to the future storage site. Awarded the Henry van de Velde design award in 2022.
• Belgoprocess Industrial Operations Wholly-owned industrial subsidiary in Dessel providing industrial waste treatment, conditioning, and temporary storage operations. Waste from producers is transported by specialized companies and processed at the Belgoprocess facility. Serves as ONDRAF's operational arm for industrial-scale radioactive waste handling.

Quantifiable outcome

• The surface storage facility received nuclear authorization in May 2023 after a 20,000+ page safety dossier, with construction beginning in 2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Royal Baudouin Foundation (Fondation Roi Baudouin)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Independent foundation organizing the societal debate on deep geological storage in Belgium in 2023, bringing together institutional actors, academics, experts, civil society organizations, and citizens, with particular attention to young generations. ONDRAF proposed this debate based on experience from the surface storage participation process.
• STORA Partnership (Dessel)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Citizen participation partnership established in 1998 representing local residents of Dessel in the radioactive waste storage facility siting process. Evaluates technical feasibility and societal acceptability of storage in close consultation with ONDRAF. Continues to operate as an active consultation platform. In 2022, ONDRAF signed a collaboration convention with STORA and MONA formalizing long-term societal contract commitments.
• MONA Partnership (Mol)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1998Citizen participation partnership established in 1998 representing local residents of Mol in the radioactive waste storage facility siting process. Works alongside STORA in Dessel to provide community representation and oversight. Continues to operate as an active consultation platform. In 2022, ONDRAF signed a collaboration convention with STORA and MONA formalizing long-term societal contract commitments.
• EURIDICE (European Underground Research Infrastructure)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1995Economic Interest Group (EIG) joint venture between ONDRAF and SCK CEN established in 1995, managing and operating the HADES underground research laboratory in Mol. Coordinates all deep geological disposal research activities conducted in the Boom Clay layer at 225 meters depth.
• SCK CEN (Studiecentrum voor Kernenergie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1980Belgian Nuclear Research Centre located in Mol. Co-manages the HADES underground research laboratory with ONDRAF under the EURIDICE joint venture since 1995. Jointly conducts research on deep geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. In 2025, ONDRAF and SCK CEN renewed and expanded their cooperation program for the next ten years, including PRACLAY heating experiments and migration studies.
• ANDRA (France)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench national radioactive waste management agency. ONDRAF cooperates with ANDRA on deep geological disposal research and shares scientific findings. ANDRA operates France's Cigéo deep geological repository program.
• Tractebel EngieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering consultancy responsible for design, study, and construction monitoring of the cyclotron dismantling project at Fleurus. Marine Maggio, Engineer in radioactive waste management and decommissioning at Tractebel Engie, was part of the project team.
• InterboringminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialized company responsible for diamond wire cutting and handling of the cyclotron culasse blocks at Fleurus. Interboring developed nuclear-specific equipment and dry cutting methods for the highly radioactive components.
• Energy Solutions (USA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three international foundries that will receive recycled steel blocks from the dismantled Fleurus cyclotron, based on their permissible radioactivity levels for smelting processes.
• Cyclife (Sweden)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three international foundries that will receive recycled steel blocks from the dismantled Fleurus cyclotron, based on their permissible radioactivity levels for smelting processes.
• Siempelkamp (Germany)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of three international foundries that will receive recycled steel blocks from the dismantled Fleurus cyclotron, based on their permissible radioactivity levels for smelting processes.
• European CommissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe European Commission has played a crucial role in the development of the HADES laboratory and funding numerous experiments. The EC is also involved in policy development through directives on radioactive waste management.
• Belgian National OrchestraminorGTM or Marketing PartnerConcert performed with the Belgian National Orchestra at Bozar on 2 December 2022 for ONDRAF's 40th anniversary, featuring the FIREBIRD performance by artist Eva L'Hoest.
• BOZAR (Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerArt center in Brussels that hosted the Belgian National Orchestra concert celebrating ONDRAF's 40th anniversary on 2 December 2022.

Scale indicators13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Posiva Oy: Finnish nuclear waste management company (jointly owned by TVO and Fortum) operating the Onkalo spent fuel repository, the world's first operational deep geological facility. Directly comparable in mandate and clay-based geological disposal approach.
• ENRESA (Empresa Nacional de Residuos Radiactivos): Spanish national radioactive waste management company responsible for spent fuel, high-level waste, and decommissioning. Comparable to ONDRAF in scope of services (storage, disposal, decommissioning) and statutory monopoly role.
• NAGRA (National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste): Swiss national agency responsible for radioactive waste disposal, currently developing deep geological repositories in Opalinus Clay. Comparable to ONDRAF in mandate, technical approach (clay-based geological disposal), and statutory monopoly structure.
• SKB (Svensk Kärnbränslehantering AB): Swedish nuclear fuel and waste management company developing the Forsmark deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel. Shares ONDRAF's mandate for long-term geological disposal and operates with a similar polluter-pays funding model.
• NUMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization of Japan): Japanese organization responsible for implementing geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste. Comparable to ONDRAF in non-profit structure, geological disposal mandate, and stakeholder engagement approach for site selection.
• COVRA (Centrale Organisatie Voor Radioactief Afval): Dutch national organization for radioactive waste storage and management, operating the HABOG facility for long-term storage of high-level waste. Directly comparable as a neighboring national agency with similar mandate and waste streams.
• ANDRA (Agence nationale pour la gestion des déchets radioactifs): France's national radioactive waste management agency and ONDRAF's closest international counterpart. ANDRA operates the Cigéo deep geological repository program and collaborates with ONDRAF on shared geological disposal research, making it directly comparable in mandate, scale, and regulatory function.
• NWMO (Nuclear Waste Management Organization): Canadian not-for-profit organization responsible for long-term management of Canada's used nuclear fuel, currently developing a deep geological repository. Comparable to ONDRAF in non-profit status, statutory mandate, and long-horizon deep geological disposal mission.
• SÚRAO (Správa úložišť radioaktivních odpadů): Czech Radioactive Waste Repository Authority, responsible for deep geological repository development and all Czech radioactive waste management. Directly comparable in mandate and is currently in similar stages of deep geological repository site selection.

Broad incumbents

• Sellafield Ltd: UK's largest nuclear site operator managing decommissioning, waste storage, and treatment at Sellafield. Comparable in decommissioning and waste management scope, though operating a much larger and older legacy site than ONDRAF's footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ondraf

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ondraf/niras Belgian Agency For Radioactive Waste And Enriched Fissile Materials