Facility Design

A preliminary design for the DGR was completed in May 2010. This work updates and advances previous conceptual design work completed in 2008. The scope of the work included all aspects of the DGR, including construction, the receipt of waste from the WWMF and nuclear generating stations, and the emplacement of the waste in the DGR.

Artist’s rendering of DGR surface facilities

The surface features of the DGR include the main shaft, ventilation shaft, waste rock management area and various ancillary facilities. The main shaft area will have a headframe equipped with a hoist to handle a 40-tonne payload, a waste package receiving building, and buildings housing equipment to heat air to be delivered underground.

DGR Underground Facilities

The underground layout of the repository includes two vertical shafts centered on a service area. Two panels of emplacement room extend from the underground service area where the latter area provides space for smaller ancillary rooms to house services, and administrative and maintenance activities.

Typical shaft sinking equipment layout

Underground rock excavation by drill and blast method 

Shafts, access tunnels and emplacement rooms will be excavated by controlled drill and blast methods.