Focus on nuclear safety: NSC publishes 2025 activity report
Deep geological repository, shortage of specialists, safety culture: The Federal Nuclear Safety Commission has presented its 2025 activity report - and shows what the independent federal advisory commission is currently working on intensively.
The Federal Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) has published its 2025 activity report. The focus was on work relating to two groundbreaking general license applications and issues relating to the long-term safety culture in Swiss nuclear facilities.
Deep geological repository and packaging plant: complex testing work underway
The disposal of radioactive waste was a key topic in the reporting year. By the end of 2024, the National Cooperative for the Disposal of Radioactive Waste (Nagra) had submitted two general license applications: one for a deep geological repository and one for a packaging facility for spent fuel elements. In the reporting year, the NSC began evaluating the extensive application documents and associated reference reports - with the aim of being able to draw up well-founded statements in the ongoing official review process.
This process is of considerable importance for those responsible for safety: the deep geological repository is the key project for Swiss nuclear waste disposal and is subject to a multi-stage, legally regulated approval process. The NSC exchanged views with both Nagra and the Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (ENSI) on outstanding issues.
Skills shortage and generational change as a strategic challenge
Another focus was on maintaining long-term expertise in the nuclear energy sector. The NSC dealt in detail with the challenges that demographic change and the shortage of skilled workers pose for nuclear safety. The generational change in highly specialized technical areas is not an abstract issue for the future - it directly affects the operational safety of nuclear facilities and presents operators and authorities with concrete planning tasks.
Safety culture: In exchange with the operators
The NSC also monitored current developments in safety culture in Swiss nuclear plants - in direct technical exchange with the operators. In nuclear technology, safety culture is one of the key factors influencing the risk profile of a plant and is therefore regularly on the Commission's agenda.
Further statements and reports
The NSC also commented on the ENSI Board's 2024 Activity and Annual Report on behalf of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC). It also dealt with the 2024 annual safety reports of the Swiss nuclear power plants and ENSI's 2024 supervisory report.
To the KNS
The NSC is a permanent extra-parliamentary commission and advises the Federal Council, DETEC and ENSI on matters relating to the nuclear safety of nuclear installations. The legal basis is Article 71 of the Nuclear Energy Act. The Commission is tasked with monitoring the state of the art in science and technology and research, examining fundamental questions of nuclear safety, participating in the enactment of regulations and submitting opinions to the licensing authorities. In accordance with the «Sectoral Plan for Deep Geological Repositories», the NSC comments on ENSI's expert opinions during each of the three stages of the site selection process. The Commission comprises eight members and has a specialist secretariat.
The full 2025 activity report is available at www.kns.admin.ch available.
