In addition to Gorleben, the Federal Government pursues another repository programme in the former iron ore mine Konrad near Salzgitter, Lower Saxony. From 1965 to 1976, 6.6 million tons of iron ore were mined at this site.

When selecting locations for the disposal of radioactive waste, geological formations carrying little or no water are favoured. This prerequisite is fulfilled by salt and clay, for example. Thanks to its thick watertight layers of clay above the ore horizon, the former iron ore mine Konrad thus offered ideal conditions.

Upon approval by the Federal Government, the Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt PTB (national metrology institute providing scientific and technical services) filed an application with the responsible authorities of the state Lower Saxony in 1982 to start a nuclear planning assessment procedure. The final documents were submitted in 1990. For the preparation of the planning documents extensive geological and hydrological investigations were carried out and evaluated and safety analyses were done. The safety analyses provided the evidence that the required protection goals could be achieved during and after the operation of the repository.

The safety of the repository in case of accidents, which cannot be completely ruled out, formed a major part of the safety analyses. Radiological calculations showed that statutory safety limits would not be exceeded.

Moreover, the potential irradiation, which arises during the handling of radioactive waste and the operation of a repository, was determined. The result shows that the maximum exposure to radiation is considerably lower than the statutory exposure limit of the Radiation Protection Ordinance.

The required public participation was effected between 1991 and 1993 by submitting the plans to the public and by effecting a concluding discussion within the framework of the planning assessment procedure. The planning assessment procedure of Konrad is at present the longest assessment procedure that has ever taken place in Germany. In 1998, the Environment Ministry of the state Lower Saxony prepared the draft of an official planning assessment decision. In this draft, it is mentioned that the "required precautions against nuclear hazards have been taken in line with state-of-the-art science and technology". In the Consensus on Nuclear Power of June 11, 2001, the Federal Government and the utility companies decided that the responsible authorities should conclude the planning assessment procedure in line with legal requirements. On June 5, 2002, the applicant (BfS) received the project approval in the form of the official planning assessment decision. On June 12, 2002, the official decision was made public.

A sum of approx. 800 million Euros has been invested in the Konrad programme so far. The largest part of this sum was paid by the utility companies (93 %) within the framework of the advanced financing ordinance. 120 employees currently work for the Konrad programme.

As four lawsuits have been filed against the planning assessment decision, it cannot be implemented at present.