At the Umicore site in Olen, radium and uranium products were produced until the 1970s. When these activities ended, the installations were dismantled and the buildings were demolished. All remaining radioactive material was safely stored using the best available methods and is continuously monitored.
Today, the situation is safe. Regular radiation checks confirm that there is no risk to the surrounding area.
However, a permanent solution is still needed for the storage of low-level, long-lived radioactive material, which remains active for many years. In addition to the current storage facilities, there are also a few historical landfill areas with old production residues, including very small amounts of radioactive material, that still need to be remediated.
Umicore is committed to finding a sustainable solution in close cooperation with the competent authorities and in dialogue with all stakeholders for both the radioactive material and the remediation of landfill sites.
More information about the remediation project can be found on the website of the Belgium Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (FANC). In the media section, you will also find updates on the efforts Umicore continues to make to responsibly deal with its historical footprint.