Transport of Heavy Load Radioactive Material in Germany

Nuclear generation has become over the last 4 decades a vital part of Germany's energetic fundament and is contributing to roughly one third of the overall electric generation (Figures of 2003: 31.7 %, i. e. 156.4 thou. GWh nuclear of 493.3 thou. GWh generated in total). And anyone who seriously tries to look beyond the outlet sockets on the wall when considering an economic reasonable energy supply which moreover is sustainable past the foreseeable exhaustion date of fossil fuels (which, in turn, will gain in value in the decades to come as raw material in chemistry) as well as environmental friendly without carbon dioxide emission, reliable and safe – must inevitably come to conclusions that oppose that \"zeitgeist stand\" and unsubstantiated \"green dogma\" to depart from all forms of nuclear generation. Regardless what will be the options really taken in our future, the employment of fission reactor technology, despite all improvements made along its path to fruition and today's high achievements and standards, involved and will always involve one major problem: The emergence of high radioactive fission products. This fact is regrettable. It is uncomfortable. It makes a real problem. But it does not constitute that alleged \"thumbs down\" criterion with regard to the nuclear energy option, it simply can be managed. Managing the problem of waste from nuclear power stations involves the transport of high active and thus still decay heat emanating fuel material to either reprocessing plants or storage facilities. And in this, NCS with its departments BES (for railroad shipments) and SLS (for heavy load shipments) has found its role.