Nuclear Cleanup: Algeria proceeds with decontamination of colonial-era test sites

The decontamination of the Béryl 2E experimental tunnel site in In Ecker, Tamanrasset, has officially commenced. Relying solely on national resources and expertise, this operation is part of an ongoing effort to address radioactive waste left by colonial nuclear testing. Coordinated by the Ministry of National Defense and the National Agency for the Rehabilitation of Former Nuclear Test Sites, the project proceeds despite the French side's refusal to acknowledge its criminal responsibility or provide maps and records of waste burial sites. These residues remain a significant hurdle to development in In Ecker and Reggane. The Algerian authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to fully cleaning these areas and preparing them for future rehabilitation, strictly adhering to international safety protocols.