VATESI annual publication “Nuclear Power Safety in Lithuania”
Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) has issued annual publication “Nuclear Power Safety in Lithuania” representing its activities in 2024.
Main areas of activity
In 2024, The State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) has completed one of the most challenging tasks – the assessment of the safety justification documents for the decommissioning of the Ignalina NPP, and in October 2024 issued a licence to the SE Ignalina NPP to carry out the decommissioning of Ignalina NPP’s power units and older radioactive waste management facilities. With this licence, the entity will continue to dismantle equipment contaminated with radionuclides in Units 1 and 2, demolish redundant structures on the site, and continue the management of radioactive waste generated during both operation and decommissioning. Under the current legal framework, specific decommissioning activities can only be carried out after the safety of these activities has been substantiated in decontamination and dismantling plans and safety analysis reports, and the relevant permits have been obtained. Therefore, one of the priorities of VATESI’s supervision has been, and continues to be, the examination of safety justification documents and the verification of compliance with the safety requirements set out therein.
Another priority area concerns the supervision of the safety of radioactive waste management and the retrieval of radioactive waste from the Maišiagala Radioactive Waste Storage Facility: retrieval and handling of waste, dismantling of the retrieval facilities, and coordination of radiological testing programmes and reports.
The continued public concern and attention to Ukraine due to the serious situation at nuclear facilities, in particular at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant, has also required constant monitoring and assessment of the situation. Lithuania, through its participation in international events, has joined the statements of the European Union (EU) countries calling on Russia to withdraw from all Ukrainian nuclear facilities as soon as possible and to hand over control to the Ukrainian authorities, and expressing support for Ukrainian nuclear power professionals who are working to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants under extremely difficult conditions.
The Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant (Belarusian NPP), which has been identified as a threat to Lithuania’s national security, is being operated with intermittent and unreported disturbances, and safety problems at the nuclear power plant continue to be unaddressed. In 2024, VATESI reiterated its call for the suspension of the operation of Units 1 and 2 of the Belarusian NPP until the implementation of stress testing measures and other modern safety requirements.
Licences and permits
In 2024, VATESI took a total of 32 decisions on the granting, revocation or renewal of licences, permits or certificates: one licence issued for carrying out the decommissioning of NF (by revoking one decommissioning licence and renewing one decommissioning licence), two permits issued for carrying out the dismantling of the Ignalina NPP, five applications approved for transportation permits, and three certificates of approval issued for the transportation of radioactive material provided for in Article 221(1)(1) of the Law on Nuclear Safety. In addition, VATESI revoked five licences, suspended one licence and amended annexes to 14 licences, as part of its supervision of nuclear energy practices involving sources of ionising radiation.
Supervision of economic entity activities
In 2024, VATESI specialists carried out 56 inspections of the activities of economic entities. Inspections identified 13 violations and 5 minor infringements of legal requirements. The violations do not have direct harmful effects of ionising radiation on population or the environment, but are related to the prevention of such effects and therefore need to be eliminated in a timely manner in accordance with a plan of measures agreed with the VATESI. All identified violations were being eliminated on time and properly.
Unusual events
In 2024, 3 unusual events registered at nuclear facilities of Ignalina NPP were rated below the scale (0 level) on the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES) and had no impact on safety. Nuclear safety at Lithuanian nuclear power facilities is adequately ensured.
Implementation of international commitments and international cooperation
In 2024, VATESI submitted the Seventh Lithuanian National Report under the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. Report provides updated information regarding new radioactive waste management facilities in operation, the management of radioactive waste and spent fuel, and safety improvement measures, as well as developments in the areas of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management over the last four years. During the review process, we responded to questions from representatives of other countries.
VATESI specialists continued works in working groups of various international organizations aimed at continuously improving the level of nuclear safety, physical security, and radiation protection in Lithuania, Europe and worldwide, exchanged experience and the best practice in nuclear activity regulation and supervision.
In the area of non-proliferation, Lithuania's commitments are being properly implemented – nuclear materials located in the Republic of Lithuania, dual-use nuclear items, research and development related to the nuclear fuel cycle are used only for peaceful purposes. This conclusion is based on the results of inspections carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors and is stated in IAEA report on the implementation of safeguards.