About us

Kerntechnische Hilfsdienst GmbH (KHG) is an organisation devoted to emergency preparedness and response. Its task is to limit the hazards in the event of an accident in a nuclear plant and eliminate the resultant effects. For this purpose it maintains a permanent staff of experts and has a wide range of equipment at its disposal.

KHG is responsible for establishing and managing emergency services on behalf of a plant operator in case of a nuclear accident. Its task is to reduce and eliminate the hazards. An accident of this kind has never occurred in Germany and is highly unlikely.

KHG relies on people, equipment and training in order to fulfil its mission. In addition to its current staff of 22 highly specialised experts, it can draw on 140 external experts who are trained in the use of KHG’s equipment and are on call 24/7. The equipment and vehicles are regularly modernised and upgraded.

KHG was founded on 16 September 1977 and is headquartered in Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen near Karlsruhe. BGZ Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung mbH holds 92.2 percent of the shares in KHG. The other shareholders are Jülicher Entsorgungsgesellschaft für Nuklearanlagen mbH (JEN, 6.6%) and Kerntechnische Entsorgung Karlsruhe GmbH (KTE, 1.2%).

Our mandate

KHG is responsible for establishing and managing an emergency response service for deployment in the event of an incident or emergency in a nuclear facility. It has a large number of responsibilities, ranging from monitoring of radioactivity to elimination of hazards.

The operators of nuclear facilities are required by law to keep trained personnel and equipment available in order to reduce and eliminate hazards in accidents. The law allows the operators to organise these precautionary measures on their own and to assign certain parts of this work to suitable institutions. KHG is one such institution. Its purpose is to establish, manage and deploy emergency services for nuclear facilities. In a deployment, KHG is responsible for the following:

  • Assessing the situation
  • Reducing and eliminating the consequences of an emergency or incident
  • Monitoring the exposure of personnel to radioactivity
  • Advising the operational commanders appointed by plant operators

KHG can also provide its services to third parties, such as public authorities.

KHG’s experts are members of on-call service teams that are available 24/7. Employees of external companies can be added to the team if necessary; they have received intensive training and taken part in exercises to prepare them for possible deployment by KHG. With its threefold emphasis on people, equipment and training, KHG has always attached special importance to the selection and training of skilled personnel. KHG also has a large fleet of special vehicles and equipment. These are ready for use at all times and are upgraded regularly. KHG has acquired its unique expertise over a period of many decades.

Management

Foto: © L. Chaperon

Torsten Gierke
Managing Director

Torsten Gierke is qualified as a lawyer. Before joining BGZ Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung mbH he worked for the German parliament and a nuclear waste management company. He has headed the BGZ Legal and Procurement department from the beginning, and when his department was merged with the Licensing department in July 2025, he assumed responsibility for both areas. In November 2025, he was appointed to the management board of Kerntechnische Hilfsdienst GmbH (KHG).

Foto: © C. Mick

Dr. Michael Hoffmann
Managing Director

Dr Michael Hoffmann studied law and has been active in the field of nuclear waste management since 1998. Initially he worked for the Federal Office for Radiation Protection, where he focused on the area of interim storage and transport of nuclear fuels. He then headed the Department for Nuclear Safety at the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management. Since 2018, he has been responsible for the operational management of the BGZ interim storage facilities. In November 2025, he was appointed to the management board of Kerntechnischer Hilfsdienst GmbH (KHG).

Foto: © C. Mick

Thorsten Hüttl
Managing Director

Thorsten Hüttl holds a degree in business administration and worked for ten years at a large auditing firm in the field of auditing, where he also already provided support to companies in the field of nuclear waste disposal. Since 2018, he has been the division manager responsible for controlling, finance and taxes at BGZ Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung mbH and was additionally appointed to the management board of Kerntechnische Hilfsdienst GmbH (KHG) in August 2023.

Structure

Daniel Pavelka
Kaufmännischer Leiter
Dr. Michael Gustmann
Leiter Gruppe Einsatztechnik
Stefan Prüßmann
Leiter Gruppe Strahlenschutz und Dekontamination

KHG’s activities are divided into three main areas: radiation protection and decontamination, technical equipment, and business management. We have interviewed members of our staff to learn about their work.

What are the main areas of activity at KHG, and what are the tasks of a group leader? In the following interviews our employees describe their responsibilities and give us some personal impressions of life with the company.

Daniel Pavelka, Commercial Manager with general power of attorney

Daniel Pavelka describes his work as a “unique opportunity in the life of a manager”. In his role as commercial manager he can look after the needs of his fellow employees. Keeping track of performance indicators is just a part of his job; what matters most is the team. A family atmosphere is important to him – at work as well as at home. The family man from Hoyerswerda appreciates the close personal relationships and general atmosphere of trust at KHG.

My path to KHG…
… was rather atypical because I was a career changer. After completing my studies in international management in Karlsruhe, I worked for many years in the automotive supplier sector. My job was to restructure parts of the company and streamline its operations. At a certain point I asked myself: Do I really want to continue with this? The answer was no. I wanted to work more closely with people. That might sound like a cliché, but it’s how I felt. So I looked for a new career, and in February 2021 I became the commercial manager at KHG.

A typical working day…
… for me involves many different activities. I hold talks with employees and external business partners, and I’m occupied with reorganising the processes at KHG. My key responsibilities are management accounting, human resources, office IT, procurement and facility management. In this work I get excellent support from my team.

What especially motivates me…
… is the chance to accompany and shape the process of change at KHG. For one thing, we are in the midst of a generational change. A number of my experienced colleagues will be retiring in the near future, and we must make sure that their knowhow and knowledge are passed on to young employees. For another, now that we are part of the BGZ Group and are implementing changes in responsibilities, it will be important to reorganise KHG in certain ways and make it ready for the future.

The local team…
… is what gives KHG its special character. Each of our employees has several competencies and roles – and each is indispensable. If the team doesn’t work smoothly, KHG doesn’t either.

I can’t imagine having a different job …
… because trust and reliability are so important here. I’ve never experienced these qualities so vividly. When we discuss or decide something as a team, I can always be sure of getting results.

Go to top

Dr Michael Gustmann, Head of Technical Equipment with general power of attorney

Dr Michael Gustmann has been at KHG for almost his entire working life. He began with the company as a remote handling engineer in 1994, and in 2001 he was appointed head of technical equipment. Born in Holstein, he has been fascinated since childhood with machines, robots and technology. His everyday job involves him with highly specialised equipment, but in his free time he prefers working with conventional machines like bicycles and motorcycles. Dr Gustmann, who has a degree in mechanical engineering and production engineering, is in great demand internationally and serves as a referee for the European robot championships.

My path to KHG…
… started when I was a combat engineer in military service. This sparked my interest in trucks and large machines. From there I stayed on a straight path: I studied mechanical engineering and production engineering at the University of Hamburg-Harburg and went on to get my doctorate at the research centre in Geesthacht, where I specialised in underwater robotics. A job opening at KHG then came at just the right time. I moved to Leopoldshafen and started work there in May 1994.

A typical working day…
… would be hard to describe in my case. Each day is different. The main task for me and my team is to maintain and improve our robots, equipment and machines so that they’re ready for action at any time. I also help my colleagues in their daily work and organize training of internal and external personnel. Regular training is essential for readiness.

What especially motivates me…
… is the great variety of equipment and machines that I encounter in my daily work. I find them infinitely fascinating.

The local team…
… includes a wide range of specialists: car mechanics, electrical engineers, business managers and radiation protection experts. We depend on each other and are proud of our cooperative atmosphere. KHG can only function if we work as a team.

I can’t imagine having a different job …
… because this is where I’ve pursued my interest in technology and technological change for over 25 years. I continue to be inspired by the prospect of improving the technology at KHG and shaping its development.

Go to top

Dr. Andreas Schnurr, Head of Radiation Protection and Decontamination

Protecting people and the environment – this is the central mission of Dr Andreas Schnurr and his team. Born in the Black Forest, Dr Schurr discovered his interest in chemistry as a child and later moved on to radiochemistry before finally specialising in radiation protection. He has been working at KHG since 2020 and started heading the team responsible for radiation protection and decontamination in 2026. He also contributes his expertise to the Professional Association for Radiation Protection and is active as a lecturer in radiation protection at the Centre for Continuing Education in Technology and the Environment at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

My path to KHG…
…actually began with my very first chemistry lesson in 7th grade. It was then that I realised I wanted to study chemistry. Whilst studying at KIT, I discovered my affinity for radiochemistry and went on to do my PhD in this field. It was in this context that I gained very close experience of practical radiation protection. After two years of scientific work in the USA, I returned to KIT. In 2020, it was literally a glimpse over the fence that led me to KHG, right next door to KIT.

A typical working day…
…involves discussions with the members of my team, site inspections, consultations regarding our technical systems and, above all, ensuring that these are operational. To guarantee this, we carry out regular maintenance work. The central tasks of my colleagues and myself also include the modification and development of new technology in the field of decontamination and radiation protection.

What especially motivates me…
…is the fact that I enjoy what I am doing. Working with my colleagues is so enjoyable that it often feels more like play than work. What’s more, there are no limits to the opportunities for further development in the field of technology.

The local team…
…is great, very supportive and always ready and fully motivated to do whatever is necessary.

I can’t imagine having a different job …
…because, for me personally, KHG offers a very attractive all-round package: the people, the variety of topics, the constant professional exchange and the opportunity to participate in committees.

Go to top

Our team

Our employees have to deal with a complex range of tasks. KHG therefore depends on people who are continually improving their skills and are focused on finding solutions. This principle has served us well for many decades.

Our permanent staff of 22 people is tasked with helping the operators of nuclear facilities eliminate hazards in the event of an accident. In an emergency they can rely on the support of up to 140 skilled workers from external companies. These external experts have full-time positions in nuclear facilities, where they are engaged in radiation protection, decontamination and installation. They are trained in the operation of equipment by KHG in special courses.

The team can be reached by telephone around the clock. This on-call duty applies to both permanent employees and external experts. An operations centre with data on nuclear facilities and deployment personnel is available in case of alarms.

KHG’s permanent employees are also responsible for procuring, maintaining and improving the company’s equipment and vehicles.

KHG Kerntechnische Hilfsdienst GmbH

Am Schröcker Tor 1
76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen

Telephone: +49 7247 81-0
E-mail: mail@khgmbh.de

Home | Legal notice | Data protection

A company of the BGZ Group

BGZ Gesellschaft für Zwischenlagerung mbH
Frohnhauser Straße 50
45127 Essen
www.bgz.de

© 2022 - Kerntechnische Hilfsdienst GmbH (KHG)
Skip to content