News

On April 20–22, 2022 meeting dedicated to the initial review of the site assessment report and concept for the upgrade of the bituminous waste storage facility into a disposal facility took place in Lithuania. This review is part of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) expert mission, which VATESI invited to advise and properly evaluate the safety case documents for the existing storage site prepared by SE Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and the concept of the disposal facility with its safety analysis report. The mission of the IAEA experts is carried out within the framework of the tripartite international project “Increasing the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant”.

IAEA experts are reviewing the assessment report of the bituminous waste storage site, the technical-engineering solutions of the concept and the assessment of the efficiency of long-term (100–300 years perspective) safety of the safety barriers being developed at the radioactive waste disposal facility. During the meeting in Lithuania, participants discussed the draft report, recommendations, and conclusions of the mission carried out by IAEA experts, additional information provided by SE Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Also, explanations on the suitability of the site for the disposal facility and safety of the concept were clarified.

The meeting participants (project partners) were representatives from Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) and the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Regulatory Authority (DSA), representatives of SE Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and their contractors. All  meeting participants also visited the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

The next review meeting is scheduled for May 2022. IAEA experts will present a draft final review report, results and conclusions. Based on the conclusions and recommendations presented in the report, VATESI will be able to make decisions on the methods of final steps of management of bituminous radioactive waste proposed by SE Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.


The project “Increasing the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant” is funded under the Norwegian Financial Mechanism Programme 2014-2021.

More information about the project.