About HADES
HADES is pivotal in the Belgian programme on the management of radioactive waste. Renowned worldwide, HADES is the oldest underground research laboratory in Europe, built specifically with the purpose of researching the possibility of geological disposal in clay. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recognises it as a centre of excellence for waste disposal technologies and scientific training. HADES is a licensed nuclear research facility, which means that scientists can use a wide range of radioactive tracers and sources.
Operated by EURIDICE
SCK CEN, the Belgian Nuclear Research Institute, began the construction of the HADES underground research laboratory in 1980. Since 1995 HADES has been operated by EURIDICE, a partnership between SCK CEN and the Belgian Agency for Radioactive Waste and Enriched Fissile Materials (NIRAS-ONDRAF). In Belgium, NIRAS-ONDRAF is responsible for radioactive waste management and coordinates the geological disposal RD&D programme.
The EURIDICE team is responsible for
- safely operating the laboratory and its installations,
- performing Research, Development and Demonstration (RD&D) on deep disposal in clay and
- communicating about its activities.
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What
In summary, HADES is an underground research laboratory to study the safety and feasibility of geological disposal of radioactive waste. But of course there is much more to say. Learn all about the HADES infrastructure here!
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Why
HADES is crucial to the Belgian programme on radioactive waste management. Why? And how has the importance of HADES evolved over the decades? You can read it here.
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How
No underground installation without an operation&safety team. Our technical team ensures the safety of the hoisting installations, follows up the instrumentation of the experiments and performs regular maintenance. Find out more about their tasks here.
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Where
HADES is located at 225 meters depth in the Boom Clay, in the Flemish municipality of Mol, Belgium. Is that all there is to it? Check it out here!
Dive deep in the underworld
The name HADES was chosen as an acronym for High Activity Disposal Experimental Site, starting a long tradition of linking experiments to Greek mythology. But there is no need to cross the Styx to find out more about HADES. Discover all the experiments here!