Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) has issued annual publication “Nuclear Power Safety in Lithuania” representing its activities in 2023.
Main areas of activity
The priorities of VATESI activity remained the same in 2023: to supervise the safety of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant’s decommissioning activities and radioactive waste management, the compliance with international non-proliferation commitments undertaken by Lithuania, to consistently upgrade the framework of nuclear safety regulation and supervision, and to be prepared for potential nuclear and radiological incidents in Lithuania and neighbouring countries.
To strengthen the level of emergency preparedness, VATESI participated in functional and international emergency preparedness exercises organised by the national authorities and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Drills and exchanges of experience and knowledge with nuclear safety regulators from other countries were organised in order to test new technical tools and to improve interaction with other responsible authorities.
In 2023, our neighbours failed to make substantial progress in implementing stress tests measures and other modern safety requirements at the Belarusian NPP, which has been identified as a threat to Lithuania’s national security. Despite Lithuania’s numerous calls to suspend the operation of Unit 1 and the commissioning of Unit 2 of the Belarusian NPP due to unresolved safety issues, Unit 2 was put into industrial operation in November 2023. The Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety reiterated its call on Belarus to analyse the experience of nuclear safety regulators in developed countries and to implement appropriate modifications to the Belarusian NPP, establishing an appropriate mechanism for informing the public and stakeholders about the plant.
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 required constant attention, monitoring and assessment of the situation. Lithuania joined the statements of Euratom and other Western countries calling on Russia to withdraw as soon as possible from all nuclear facilities in Ukraine and to hand over control to the Ukrainian authorities, and expressing support for the Ukrainian nuclear professionals who work to ensure the safety of the nuclear power plants, even under such difficult conditions.
Licences and permits
In 2023, VATESI issued 5 licences. These include 4 licences to carry out activities with sources of ionising radiation in the nuclear energy area to perform activities subject to occupational exposure to ionising radiation at Ignalina NPP and 1 licence to transport nuclear fuel cycle material and nuclear and fissile material listed in Annex 1 to the Law on Nuclear Safety, in the quantities set out therein. Also, VATESI analysed and approved 2 applications for transportation permits for radioactive material classified as nuclear material and issued a certificate of approval for the transport of radioactive materials.
Supervision of economic entity activities
In 2023, VATESI specialists carried out 59 inspections of the activities of economic entities. During the inspections 27 violations were identified, 16 of them were minor. One violation was detected when examining a safety justifying document submitted by Ignalina NPP and not at the time of inspection. 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 are eliminating by agreed schedule and measures.
Unusual events
In 2023, 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
2023, Lithuania informed international community that all spent nuclear fuel from two permanently shut-down Ignalina NPP power units had been safely transferred to spent fuel storage facilities and that decontamination and dismantling of redundant systems and radioactive waste management operations were further continued. The Convention on Nuclear Safety Review Meeting confirmed that Lithuania is properly implementing its commitments.
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.
VATESI annual publication Nuclear Power Safety in Lithuania 2023
