HomeNewsBESIX joins forces in construction of Belgium’s first near-surface nuclear waste disposal facility

13 June 2025

BESIX joins forces in construction of Belgium’s first near-surface nuclear waste disposal facility

BESIX is proud to announce its role in the joint venture NucleusSafe, selected by ONDRAF/NIRAS (the Belgian agency for radioactive waste management) to deliver the civil works for the country’s first near-surface disposal facility for low- and intermediate-level short-lived nuclear waste in Dessel.

Safe, long-term solution for nuclear waste

This landmark project marks a major milestone in Belgium’s nuclear waste management strategy. The facility, which will be built in phases over several decades, will provide a safe, long-term solution for the final storage of radioactive waste. Construction is set to begin following the summer.

Belgium’s first near-surface nuclear waste disposal facility

Strong consortium

The civil works will be carried out by the NucleusSafe consortium, comprising BESIX and its subsidiary Vanhout, Deckx and Stadsbader Contractors, each bringing complementary experience in complex infrastructure. BESIX’s contribution is part of its continued commitment to critical, technically demanding infrastructure that serves both society and the environment.

We sincerely thank our client for the trust placed in us to deliver this nuclear waste disposal facility. The project is a natural fit with BESIX’s long-standing expertise in managing and constructing complex, high-performance industrial infrastructure.

Mark Beyst

General Manager, BESIX Belgium-Luxembourg

Previous experience in nuclear sector

"Building on our successful delivery of the foundation pit for the PALLAS reactor in the Netherlands, the spent fuel storage facilities in Doel and Tihange in Belgium, and a state-of-the-art nuclear medicine radioisotope facility in Sydney, we are proud to once again support the development of essential infrastructure in the nuclear sector.

Together with our joint venture partners, and especially with our subsidiary Vanhout, we remain fully committed to delivering this project with the highest standards of safety, technical precision, and operational excellence,” continues Mark Beyst, General Manager of BESIX Belgium-Luxembourg.

With this project, BESIX continues to support the development of essential infrastructure while reinforcing its leadership in safe and sustainable engineering solutions.