Preparations for the disposal of RW to the repository have started

SE Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) in 2021 successfully completed the construction of the Very Low-Level Radioactive Waste Landfill Facility (B19), during which the facility’s structures were built. The infrastructure for the final treatment of very low-level short-lived radioactive waste is ready for operation. 

In 2022 the INPP planning to implement the first campaign for the disposal of radioactive waste. Today the preparatory works for the campaign is successfully carried out: procurement procedures for the necessary materials, equipment and mechanisms are carried out; the first containers with very low-level radioactive waste are transported to the landfill and placed in its buffer zone.  June the 2nd this year, 39 containers have already been delivered to the landfill site. Once the campaign is launched a total of about 250 containers will be delivered to the landfill.

The disposal and transportation of waste to the very low-level radioactive waste repository will be carried out in accordance with modern environmental protection requirements, the IAEA principles of radioactive waste management and good practices in other countries.

It is planned that after the successful completion of the procurement procedures for the basic materials, the first campaign for the disposal of very low-level radioactive waste will start in July after the inspection of VATESI's and preparations for the first campaign. The campaign will be carried out by the INPP personnel.

The radioactive waste will be deposited in the very low-level radioactive waste landfill with no intention of retrieval in the future. The INPP will place the waste in the landfill until it is completely filled, then it will be closed. Due to the very low radioactivity of the radioactive waste, the active institutional supervision of the landfill after the closure will last for 30 years and the passive supervision of the facility for another 70 years is planned. After this period, the landfill area will be available for use without any restrictions.

The project is funded by the European Union Ignalina program.