VATESI issued a permit for the industrial operation of a repository for very low level radioactive waste
On June 30, 2025 State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) issued a permit for the industrial operation of the Very low-level radioactive waste repository built in Visaginas municipality near Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant site.
VATESI's decision to issue the permit was based on an assessment of the safety documentation submitted by the SE Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. The industrial operation of the repository will allow the company to dispose of the remaining very low-level radioactive waste from both the operation and decommissioning of Ignalina NPP.
As early as 2022, VATESI issued a permit for the transport of radioactive waste to the repository and to test technological systems and operations with radioactive waste. The authorisation for the industrial operation of the repository was granted following confirmation of the results of the tests carried out on the repository's systems and operations for the disposal of radioactive waste, which filled about one fifth of the repository's volume.
Radioactive waste repository is a radioactive waste management facility for emplacement of waste with no intention of retrieving it in the future. Very low-level radioactive waste repository can hold up to 60,000 m3 of waste. The disposal of radioactive waste is carried out regularly, after a certain amount of waste has been collected. It is planned that the repository will be filled when the decommissioning of the Ignalina NPP is completed. After closure active repository surveillance (radiological and environmental monitoring, physical security) should be carried out for another 30 years. Restriction on land use will remain for next 70 years.
Summary of the VATESI review and evaluation of the safety documentation (pdf)