INPP is preparing to manage an industrial waste landfill

Preparatory works for the management of the industrial waste landfill have started at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant - a landfill research program and a methodology for the removal of radiation control are being prepared. The implementation of this project will allow safe disposal of over 30 thousand cubic meters of waste accumulated almost from the start of operation of the Ignalina NPP.

Opened in 1985 and closed in 2015, the landfill is an area with 15 separate landfills for industrial waste storage. Various construction and demolition waste, various packaging, obsolete equipment parts, and biodegradable waste were brought here. During the 30 years of operation, the landfill has accumulated a total of 30,842 cubic meters of waste.

Landfill management is part of the Ignalina NPP decommissioning process. It is planned to no longer apply radiation protection requirements in accordance with the established conditional uncontrolled levels of radioactivity and to grant the status of an ordinary landfill. Preparations are underway to establish conditional uncontrolled levels of industrial waste stored at the landfill.

According to project manager Denis Simonov, these future works are important for the safe disposal of industrial waste before the plant decommissioning is over.

"Such waste may be disposed of in accordance with the procedures in force, ie it shall be treated, packaged, characterized and transported outside the Ignalina NPP or disposed of in a landfill. This method of handling is expensive. The current project will lay the foundations for an alternative method of landfill management, which will save a lot of money.” says D. Simonov.

The assessment of the impact of landfills on the environment and the population and the determination of uncontrolled levels under the contract is performed by UAB Svertas Group, together with its subcontractors - State research institute Center for Physical Sciences and Technology  and the Lithuanian Energy Institute. According to the project manager, this will ensure professional and timely performance of work.

The contract with UAB Svertas Group was signed for 2 years, its value is EUR 719,000 (excluding VAT). The activity is funded by the 2014-2021 Norwegian Financial Mechanism under the project "Safety Enhancement of Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Radioactive Waste Management". The aim of the project is to improve the decommissioning management, control, and prevention system at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.

The Ignalina NPP was finally shut down at the end of 2009. The power plant currently employs nearly 1,800 people. The dismantling of the first INPP reactor is planned to start in 2027, the second in 2029. The total estimated value of INPP dismantling works is 3.3 billion euros.