Beishan Underground Research Laboratory Explained

The Beishan Underground Research Laboratory (also shortened Beishan URL) is a deep geological repository for the disposal of spent nuclear fuel, currently under construction in the Gobi Desert, in Gansu, China. The facility is expected to take 7 years to build, with a planned operating period of 50 years, and cost approximately 2.7 billion yuan (US$400 million). It will reach 560m (1,840feet) below ground at its deepest point.^{[1] [2] [3]}

See also

• Radioactive waste
• Deep geological repository
• Nuclear power in China

Notes and References

1. News: Xie . Echo . China builds bunker to test whether nuclear waste can be dumped underground . 28 June 2021 . . 23 June 2021.
2. Wang . Ju . Liang . Chen . Su . Rui . Zhao . Xingguang . The Beishan underground research laboratory for geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste in China: Planning, site selection, site characterization and in situ tests . Journal of Rock Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering . June 2018 . 10 . 3 . 411–435 . 10.1016/j.jrmge.2018.03.002 . 2018JRMGE..10..411W . 135394727 . free .
3. News: China starts building underground lab . 28 June 2021 . . 21 June 2021.