The Algerian Ministry of National Defense announced the launch of a second operation to decontaminate the Beryl E2 test tunnel site on 1 November 2026. Located in the In Ekker region of Tamanrasset, the site is a focus for government remediation efforts. Officials confirmed the start of the decontamination process as part of broader safety protocols regarding the area. Work at the facility follows the identification of radioactive contamination at the location. The Ministry of National Defense maintains oversight of the site as crews begin the second phase of the cleanup project. This operation aims to mitigate environmental risks associated with the tunnel. On November 1, 2026, the Algerian Ministry of National Defense announced the launch of a second operation to decontaminate the Beryl E2 test tunnel site in the In Ekker region of Tamanrasset. This specific site remains a priority for the government as it manages the long-term consequences of nuclear activity in the region.
Dispute Over Nuclear Waste Records
The Algerian Ministry of National Defense recently accused the French side of evading criminal responsibility. According to the Ministry, French authorities have refused to provide records and maps detailing the specific burial sites used for nuclear waste. The Algerian Ministry of National Defense accused the French side of evading criminal responsibility and refusing to provide records and maps of burial sites for nuclear waste.
Official representatives from the French Ministry of the Armed Forces and the Elysee Palace disputed this characterization on 8 September 2025. They claimed that France had already handed over information regarding military nuclear waste buried in the Sahara to President Abdelmadjid Tebboune. This alleged transfer reportedly occurred during the 2022 visit of President Emmanuel Macron to Algeria.
Jean-Marie Collin, director of the French branch of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, stated that the Algerian Ministry of Defense's recent announcement reinforces questions regarding the claims made by French authorities on 8 September 2025. Jean-Marie Collin stated that the Algerian Ministry of Defense's announcement reinforces questions regarding the French authorities' claims from September 8, 2025.
Mr. Collin argued for greater clarity regarding the documentation process. "France must be transparent and publish the file it supposedly handed over to President Tebboune, along with all the maps and information in its possession regarding buried waste and radiologically contaminated areas," Mr. Collin said. The call for transparency notes ongoing friction between the two nations concerning the management and documentation of hazardous materials left behind after nuclear testing. As the Algerian Ministry of National Defense continues its second phase of decontamination at the Beryl E2 test tunnel site, the absence of verified, detailed maps remains a central point of contention in the diplomatic discourse between the Algerian government and the French Ministry of the Armed Forces. The public request for the release of these documents shows the significance of the environmental and safety concerns currently being addressed by the teams operating in the In Ekker region of Tamanrasset.
