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Research

Opalinus Clay is the potential host rock for the storage of radioactive waste in Switzerland. The Mont Terri rock laboratory is located in an Opalinus Clay formation and is being operated by swisstopo. The research priority at this laboratory concerns the long-term safety and technical feasibility of deep geological repositories, but CO2 sequestration and geothermal energy have also recently been incorporated into the programme.

Experiments in the Mont Terri galleries
Experiments in the Mont Terri galleries

In the Mont Terri project, international research is being carried out in order to determine the hydrogeological, geochemical and geotechnical characteristics of Opalinus Clay formations. Because of their very low permeability, clay formations are being considered in a variety of countries, including Switzerland, as a potentially suitable host rock for the deep geological disposal of radioactive waste.

swisstopo manages the international research project and operates the Mont Terri rock laboratory. The aim is to obtain the most detailed and accurate research results in collaboration with the various international and Swiss partners. As a neutral and specialised authority, swisstopo is in constant contact with all the involved political and social interest groups.

swisstopo is also a partner in the CTI research programme, SCCER-SoE (Swiss Competence Centre for Energy Research – Supply of Electricity).

The extension of the Mont Terri rock laboratory was completed in October 2019. This research facility now benefits from 514 meters of galleries and additional niches intended for experiments.


Mont Terri Project Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Route de la Gare 63
2882 St-Ursanne
Tel.
+41 (0)32 461 40 50

Mont Terri Project

Federal Office of Topography swisstopo
Route de la Gare 63
2882 St-Ursanne

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