April 7, 2017 the Seventh Review Meeting of Convention on Nuclear Safety Summary Report highlighted the importance of IAEA safety standards and review missions, as well as of Vienna declaration principles application regarding prevention of accidents and minimizing their consequences at new and operating nuclear facilities.
Summary Report emphasises the importance of enhancement of safety culture, implementation of safety review missions recommendations, ensuring regulatory authority independence from nuclear power programme developing institutions, safety concerns related to ageing nuclear facilities, adequate human and financial resources for regulatory authorities, harmonized cross-border emergency planning approaches and transparency in communication of nuclear safety issues to the public and stakeholders.
Lithuanian delegation successfully presented National Report and activities of nuclear facility operators and Government institutions during three-year period in ensuring obligations under the Convention. It was confirmed that Lithuania fulfilled the Convention’s review requirement.
Lithuanian delegation actively participated in the discussions of other countries reports with major attention to Belarusian Nuclear Power Plant, which is being constructed only in 40 km from Lithuania‘s capital Vilnius.
Lithuania called on Belarus to stop the construction of the NPP on Ostrovets site, to evaluate selected site according to IAEA safety standards and to complete consultations with neighbouring countries. Also asked to plan additional safety measures adhering to modern safety requirements for NPP design regarding heavy plane crash and stress tests. Lithuania’s delegation expressed its concern regarding inadequate safety culture level in all organizations that participate in implementation of the new nuclear power plant’s project and numerous serious safety violations during construction.
The Seventh Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) took place 27 March – 7 April 2017. More than 900 delegates from 77 countries represented the Meeting.
