Geological Disposal of High Level Radioactive Waste in China: Progress and Breakthrough during 2019-2024

On May 6, 2019, the proposal to construct an underground research laboratory (URL) for geological disposal of high level radioactive waste (HLW) in Beishan, Gansu, was approved by China Atomic Energy Authority. On June 17, 2021, the construction of the URL officially started, which means that the Chinese program for geological disposal of HLW has entered a new stage, and it also means a major breakthrough. This paper reviews the progress and major achievements of the R&D on geological disposal of HLW in China during 2019-2024, including regulations, technical standards, site characterization, buffer material study, engineering technologies, rock mechanics, migration of radionuclide studies and safety assessment, with focus on introducing the progress of the construction of Beishan URL and the R&D conducted in the URL.