The DBDC Marks 3 Year Anniversary
The Deep Borehole Demonstration Center (DBDC) is proud to celebrate three years of advancing deep borehole disposal as a safe and effective solution for radioactive waste management. As the nuclear industry continues to explore next-generation waste management strategies, we reflect on the events and partnerships that have shaped our journey.
Major achievements over the past few years include:
May 2023: Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Norsk Kjernekraft to collaborate on a demonstration project in Norway.
March 2024: Provided an update on DBDC progress and plans at the Annual Waste Management Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona.
September 2024: Appointed Andy Griffith, a 40-year veteran of the nuclear energy sector, as Executive Director.
February 2025: Welcomed Deep Fission as the newest member of the DBDC.
January 2026: Officially launched the deep borehole demonstration program with a groundbreaking ceremony in Cameron, Texas.
Over the last three years, DBDC coalition members, including ERDO (European Radioactive waste disposal Organization), Halliburton, Southern Company, Deep Isolation, and Deep Fission, have collaborated to further research, engineering, and demonstration activities in deep borehole disposal.
“Three years of teamwork, support, innovation, and technical progress have brought us to this point,” said Andy Griffith, Executive Director of the DBDC. “We are proud of what the DBDC members have accomplished together, and we remain committed to demonstrating practical, scalable solutions for nuclear waste disposal.”
Upcoming Events
Andy Griffith will be presenting at the 52nd Annual Waste Management Symposia (WM2026), March 8-12 in Phoenix, Arizona, which brings together more than 2,500 attendees and 200 exhibitors from 900 organizations across 30 countries. This year’s theme is "Efficient and Innovative Nuclear Materials and Technology Solutions."
Andy will participate as a panelist during the following sessions at WM2026:
Monday, March 9: Transport of Microreactors - Packaging and Transportation
Wednesday, March 11: IAEA Coordinated Research Project and the Global State of Knowledge on the Deep Borehole Disposal System - DBDC Overview
Wednesday, March 11: Developments in Deep Borehole Disposal Around the World -Updated Technology Readiness Assessment of Deep Borehole Disposal
Recent Research and Publications
Andy also co-authored a paper presented at WM2025 titled “Accelerated High-Temperature and Pressure Demonstration of Deep Borehole Disposal Canister Technology”. The paper reports the first year of the SAVANT project, which tested canister and casing materials under extreme temperature and pressure conditions simulating a deep borehole disposal environment. Results show the canisters performed well under conditions equivalent to a depth of 4 km, with corrosion rates lower than previously assumed, supporting confidence in canister integrity, retrievability, and long-term safety.
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About the Deep Borehole Demonstration Center:
The Deep Borehole Demonstration Center is a US 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing deep borehole disposal as a safe and effective solution for radioactive waste management. Through international collaboration, scientific excellence, and community engagement, the Center conducts demonstrations and develops safety cases to support the global deployment of deep borehole technologies.
For more information about the Deep Borehole Demonstration Center and its initiatives, please visit www.deepboreholedemo.org.
Media contact
info@deepboreholedemo.org