Strategic assessment of nuclear waste disposal site selection using the fuzzy DEMATEL method

The growing global demand for energy has positioned nuclear energy as a significant alternative among sustainable energy sources. However, the most critical challenge of nuclear energy production in terms of environmental and societal acceptance lies in the long-term and secure disposal of high-level radioactive waste. This complex issue necessitates the use of multi-criteria decision-making approaches that can evaluate a wide range of technical, environmental, socio-economic and administrative factors simultaneously. In this study, the criteria affecting the final disposal site selection for nuclear waste were analysed using the fuzzy DEMATEL method, incorporating expert judgements under uncertainty. Eight main criteria and 29 sub-criteria were identified, and the causal relationships and relative importance among them were systematically examined. The results indicated that the criterion 'Safety and Risk Factors' exerts the most dominant influence in the decision-making process and 'Geological and Hydrological Conditions' as well as 'Public Acceptance' shape the process due to their high effectiveness values. At the sub-criterion level, technical safety components such as 'Nuclear Hazards', 'Subsurface Infiltration of Radioactive Waste' and 'Geological Stability' emerged as the most influential elements. The results indicate that a safety-oriented prioritization is inevitable in nuclear waste disposal, whereas other environmental, societal and administrative variable functions are complementary factors supporting this core axis. This study contributes to the development of an integrated and sustainable site selection approach and supports the formulation of nuclear waste management policies on rational foundations.