About VATESI

The State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) is a state regulatory and supervisory authority for nuclear safety and activities involving ionising radiation sources in this area. VATESI sets forth safety regulations and requirements, supervises compliance with them, issues licenses and permits, assesses nuclear facilities for safety, conducts inspections, and carries out other functions.

Within its remit, VATESI ensures compliance with the commitments of the Republic of Lithuania established in international agreements, and represents the national interests in international organisations.

VATESI is an independent state institution, established in 1991. Its activities are financed by the appropriations of the Lithuanian State budget and by other legally generated revenue.

VATESI is headed by the Head of VATESI appointed by the President of the Republic of Lithuania based on a recommendation from the Prime Minister. Deputy Heads are appointed by the Prime Minister on a recommendation from the Head of VATESI. 

VATESI vision

• The public and the environment are reliably protected in accordance with the highest and modern safety standards.
• Nuclear safety regulation is explicit and prudent.
• Work at VATESI is highly respected, valued and motivating.

VATESI mission is to perform the state regulation and supervision of safety of nuclear facilities and activities related to nuclear and nuclear fuel cycle materials in order to protect the public and the environment from the harmful effects of radiation.

The main activity priorities of VATESI are as follows:

• To supervise safety of the permanently shut-down units of the Ignalina NPP and their decommissioning;
• To supervise safety of construction and operation of radioactive waste management facilities;
• To ensure and supervise compliance with the international non-proliferation obligations undertaken by the Republic of Lithuania;
• To improve the regulatory and supervisory framework of nuclear safety in Lithuania;
• To assess, within its remits, the compliance of nuclear power plants in neighbouring countries with international safety standards and to raise issues to address the identified safety problems;
• To prepare, within its remits, for nuclear and radiological emergencies that may occur in Lithuania and abroad.

VATESI Integrated Management System 

VATESI has established and implemented a documented integrated management system (IMS) in line with the requirements of the LST EN ISO 9001:2015 „Quality Management Systems. Requirements“ and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) GSR Part 2 „Leadership and Management for Safety“. The VATESI quality management system is applicable to the area of regulation and supervising of nuclear safety, physical security of nuclear power facilities, physical security of nuclear materials and nuclear fuel cycle materials, radiation safety of activities with ionising radiation sources in the nuclear power area, international obligations of the Republic of Lithuania with regard non-proliferation of nuclear weapons.

VATESI Management System Policy (.pdf) 

Certificate of Compliance (.pdf)