The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is responsible for the management of Canada’s intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level radioactive waste, as well as used nuclear fuel, ensuring their safe, long-term storage.
Intermediate-level waste consists of used reactor components and materials from medical, industrial and research sources. Non-fuel high-level waste is generated during the production of radioisotopes that are used in nuclear medicine to diagnose, treat and monitor diseases such as cancer and heart conditions.
In 2023, the NWMO began planning a second deep geological repository for these materials.
We interviewed Joanne Jacyk, Director of Site Selection for Intermediate-Level Waste at the NWMO, to discuss the project.
What is the second repository project, and why is it needed for Canada’s long-term nuclear waste management strategy?
The second repository project is part of Canada’s Integrated Strategy for Radioactive Waste. The NWMO was mandated by the federal government in 2023 to develop and implement a plan for the safe, long-term management of intermediate-level and non-fuel high-level radioactive waste.
It is about acting now, in this generation, to create long-term solutions and ensure we do not pass the burden of long-term active management of this material to future generations.
How is the NWMO leveraging our experience from the first repository project to guide this new initiative?
We are building on more than 20 years of learnings and input from the first repository project, which is designed for used nuclear fuel.
Our approach for the second repository project will be similarly guided by our commitments to Reconciliation and aligning with Indigenous Knowledge, science and technology.
Last year, we began seeking input on our proposed approach for siting this second repository. We are inviting feedback from Indigenous Peoples and Canadians to help refine it. It will be a collaborative, consent-based and community-driven process.
What are the anticipated timelines and upcoming milestones for the second repository project?
We spent 2025 inviting feedback on our proposed siting approach. We will continue this engagement over the next two years. We expect to officially launch the site selection process for the second repository around 2028.
The proposed process would start with an opportunity for communities to express interest in learning more about the site selection process and the project. The second repository will not proceed without the involvement of Indigenous communities. As we advance our work, we will remain adaptive and will consider many options, guided by technical studies and input from Canadians and Indigenous communities.
In the interim, we are also conducting technical work to better understand the waste types and quantities we will need to manage. We are also developing conceptual designs for all aspects of the project such as packaging and containment. Finally, we are defining which waste types we can accept and manage.
Learn more about our second repository.