Zero tolerance for corruption: how transparency becomes the norm

The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) demonstrates an exemplary resistance to corruption of 0%, reflecting zero tolerance for any unethical behaviour. Anti-corruption education has become the cornerstone of the company's transparency culture, promoting employee awareness, accountability and the highest standards of transparency.

In 2024, INPP employees were awarded as many as 3,880 certificates for successfully completing anti-corruption education courses covering topics such as managing conflicts of interest, gift policies and whistleblower protection. This training initiative, based on the e-learning platform developed by the Special Investigation Service Of the Republic of Lithuania (SIT), ensured the development of staff skills and active participation in the creation of a corruption-proof environment.

"If an employee properly balances private and public interests and is able to assess the appearance of a potential conflict of interest, this becomes an important contribution to strengthening transparency. However, the most important element in creating a corruption-proof environment in a company is the awareness and values of the employees, the demands we place on ourselves and the surrounding environment, and the extent to which we are involved in creating such an environment," notes Vytas Žukovskis, Head of the INPP's Prevention Department.

The company's employee survey, which has been carried out for five consecutive years to determine employees' attitudes, experiences and relationship to corruption, has shown that intolerance of corruption has become part of the company's norm. As of 2022, employees' tolerance of corruption has dropped to 0% in 2024, and 86% of respondents indicated that if they noticed a case of corruption they would not hesitate to report it. Almost (96%) of the respondents are aware that the INPP has a unit responsible for creating a corruption-proof environment, the Prevention Unit, and 98% believe that if a possible irregularity were to come to light at the INPP, it would be properly investigated and evaluated.

The results of the survey also provide a measure of the level of the Company's Resilience to Corruption. The impressive results of 0.93 Corruption Resilience Level (with a high threshold of 1) confirm that anti-corruption measures at the INPP are not just a formality, but naturally integrate into the daily operations. "In the future, we intend to further strengthen our initiatives, expand employee education and promote cooperation in creating a transparent environment. Such achievements not only enhance the IAE's reputation, but also increase public confidence in the performance of state-owned enterprises, ensuring that transparency remains a core principle of their operations," V. Žukovskis notes.