PDP #4: Safety Enhancement of Ignalina NPP Radioactive Waste management
Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) ·Lithuania
About this project
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: Calibri">The project will provide an exceptional opportunity to work together to improve expertise in nuclear decommissioning and competencies to reduce risk of negative impact on people and the environment and gain, together with VATESI and the DSA, the best world practices in a safe and efficient decommissioning. </span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: Calibri">The objective of the project is to improve management, control and prevention of negative impact of radioactive materials stored at Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) on the environment and the population. This project will contribute to the safe management of radioactive waste.</span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: Calibri">Specifically, the project will allow Lithuania to start the initial stages of a Deep Geological project, which is necessary for the long-term storage of radioactive waste and required safety assessments for storage of industrial waste from INPP and assessments for a third waste stream - bituminized waste. </span></span></p> <p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: Calibri">The project will also conduct training and capacity building exercises, including experience sharing between Lithuania and Norway through the partnership with DSA and VATESI.</span></span></p> <p><strong><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-family: Calibri">The project includes:</span></span></strong></p> <ul> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Social and economic evaluation and criteria for selection of potential region for Deep Geological Repository</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Geophysical (seismic) survey programme</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Geophysical (seismic) investigations</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Site descriptive model for deep borehole</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Development of concept for spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and radioactive waste (RW) final disposal in clay</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Establishment of conditional radiological clearance levels for industrial waste storage site</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Review and evaluation of bituminized waste storage facility transformation into a repository concept and safety analysis report review</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Final review report on bituminized waste storage facility transformation into a repository site </span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Training of professional employees</span></span></li> <li><span style="font-size: 11pt"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif">Technical meetings for professional employees<br> <strong>Target groups of the project: </strong>INPP, VATESI, DSA, society.</span></span></li> </ul>
Bilateral cooperation results
To carry out the project activities, technical assistance from independent experts was enlisted. VATESI, with support from the Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) and the IAEA mission, conducted an expert evaluation. They reviewed safety documents related to the reconstruction of the Ignalina NPP’s bituminised radioactive waste storage facility into a repository, and helped identify and justify safe disposal methods for the bituminised waste. During the review with IAEA experts, certain safety standards were highlighted that needed to be addressed in the technical project development. International experts also pointed out key safety aspects that needed to be demonstrated reliably. These issues were analyzed and improved during the site safety assessment for the design phase of the repository. The conceptual and site safety assessment documents were reviewed and coordinated with VATESI. VATESI also played an active role in preparing the report for the "Industrial Waste Storage Site" ("Polygon"), which determined the conditional levels of uncontrolled radioactivity. This report considered possible exposure scenarios and calculated safe levels for releasing industrial waste from radiation control. The research program, methodology for radiation control elimination, and all reports were approved by VATESI. Representatives from DSA, VATESI, and IAE worked closely together, participating in three training sessions and seven technical meetings to improve their qualifications. Following this collaboration, IAE received a proposal from DSA for further joint projects.
Project partners
- Norwegian Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (DSA) Donor project partner· Norway
- State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) Project partner· Lithuania