5/19/2003: LITHUANIA MAY HAVE TO DELAY IGNALINA CLOSURE Director of the
State Nuclear
Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) Saulius Kutas
stated during a news briefing on 19 May 2003 that it may not be possible to shut down one
reactor by 2005, as Lithuania pledged in its National Energy Strategy during EU
accession talks in 1999.[1,2] If the closure plan for the plant is delayed by more than a
year, costs are estimated to rise by about €29 million (about $33.4
million as of 24 June
2003) per year of
delay.[1,3] The Lithuanian government estimates the total cost of plant closure
at €3 billion (about $3.45 billion). The EU
has resolved to pay €70 million (about $80.5 million) per year until
2006 for shutdown of the plant.[1] One reason for the reactor shutdown delay has been a delay in construction of a new heating plant.
Since the reactor provides heat to both the nearby town and the plant itself, it will have to be kept operating at minimal levels until the new heating
facility is completed.[1] Sources:
[1] "Lithuania To Be Late With Ignalina NPP Closure," Bellona Foundation, 21 May
2003, http://www.bellona.no.
[2] Lithuania's EU Accession Programme 2001-2003, Government of the
Republic of Lithuania Web Site,
http://www.euro.lt/lpnp/ENG/index.htm.
[3] Baltic News Service, 19 May 2003; in
"Delay of Closure Plan of Lithuania's N-Plant May Boost Closure Costs,"
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://www.lexis-nexis.com. {Entered 6/2/03 AE}
2/27/2003:
NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS DISCUSS OPENING EDUCATION CENTER AT IGNALINA On 27 February 2003, Interfax reported
that Russian and Lithuanian scientists are planning to open an international
education center under the auspices of the IAEA
at the Ignalina
nuclear power plant. According to Pavel Lavritov,
one of the project's initiators and director of the West Business Consulting
Group, the center will train NPP workers and hold discussions on the future of Ignalina
plant. Ignalina Director Viktor Shevaldin
believes that the IAEA
and the EU
should help Ignalina
experts find jobs in Europe to ensure that they are not contracted by
countries that support terrorism. Although Ignalina
is to be shut down in 2005, Lithuania's national concept for energy development
calls for the continued use of nuclear power.
["International education center may be
opened at Ignalina nuclear power plant," Interfax, 27 February 2003.] {Entered
3/12/03 AI}
2/8/2003: LITHUANIA PLANS TO BUILD
A NEW NUCLEAR REACTOR
Lithuanian President Rolandas Paksas
announced that Lithuania plans to construct a new nuclear reactor.
The two operational Soviet-built
RBMK reactors at Ignalina are to be shut down by
2009.[1] As of February 2003, Ignalina
provides about 75% of Lithuania's energy.[2] Lithuania's new national
strategy is to remain a nuclear energy state, according to Paksas.[1]
Sources:
[1] Natalya Smirnova,
"Litva budet stroit yadernyy reactor," Vremya-NM, 8 February
2003; in Yadernaya RossiyaSegodnya online
edition,
http://www.pircenter.org/english/nrt/article.htm, 8 February 2003.
[2] "Ignalinskuyu AES v Litve posle
ostanovki srazu demontiruyut," Interfax, 21 November 2002. {Entered 3/14/03 AI}
9/2000: IGNALINA GETS FINANCING FOR WASTE
TREATMENT AND STORAGE PROJECT In September 2000, the Lithuanian government
decided to serve as a guarantor for a loan of EUR8.983 million ($7.7
million as of 14 September 2000) to Ignalina. The German bank Norddeutsche
Landesbank Girozentrale has agreed to provide the loan over a period of
five years. Ignalina intends to use this money to finance the construction
of radioactive waste treatment and storage facilities, which will begin in
2002. The total estimated cost of the project is EUR16.343 million ($14
million). The remaining EUR7.63 million ($6.6 million) will come from the
plant's own resources.
["Ignalina to Borrow 9 Million
Euros," Baltic Times, No. 224, 14-20 September 2000, p. 10.]
{Entered by IPZ on 1/18/2001}
9/2000: RESULTS OF DONORS CONFERENCE As of September 2000,
the list of donors providing financial support for the shutdown of Ignalina-1
includes Ireland (EUR1.5 million [$1.3 million as of 1 September 2000]), Austria (EUR1.5 million), Belgium (EUR1.65
million [$1.47 million]), Denmark
(EUR2.7 million [$2.4 million] plus EUR13.5 million [$12 million] for regional development), the
European Union (EUR165 million [$146.6 million]), the United States (EUR1 million
[$0.9 million] to ensure the safety of Ignalina-2, EUR0.3 million
[$0.26 million] for VATESI, and EUR0.2 million
[$0.17 million] for the energy sector), Poland (EUR1.5 million for the energy
sector), the Netherlands (EUR1.5 million to be paid over the course of three
years), Norway (EUR1.5 million), Finland (EUR1.5 million), Switzerland (EUR6
million [$5.3 million] plus EUR7 million [$6.2 million] for bilateral
cooperation), and Germany (EUR7 million [$6.2 million]). The Czech Republic,
Spain, Italy, and Japan pledged technological or other non-monetary assistance.
The Netherlands, Finland, Switzerland, and Germany offered non-monetary
assistance in addition to the monetary assistance noted above. The volume and
type of assistance from England, Greece, and France will be specified later.
["Donorskaya konferentsiya
zakonchilas," Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Web
Site, www.iae.lt:80/.]
{Entered by IPZ on 12/07/00}
7/21/2000: RUSSIA'S OFFER TO LEASE IGNALINA
REJECTED On the first day of a donors
conference, Russian Deputy Minister of Atomic Energy Bulat Nigmatulin
voiced Russia's proposal to lease the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and take care
of its safety, operations, and spent nuclear fuel. Lithuania rejected the offer. Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius pointed out
the political dimension of the proposal and confirmed the government's decision to shut down
Ignalina-1. He added, however, that Lithuania was prepared to sell electricity to Russia.[1] The idea of Russia operating the
facility is not new. In March 2000, Ignalina Managing Director Viktor
Shevaldin said that Lithuania should sell Ignalina to Russia, thus solving
plant's financial, safety, and social problems. He believed that Russia would
be able to run the plant at full capacity, increase electricity export to
Belarus, Russia, and Western markets, and earn enough money to finance the
decommissioning of the plant. The suggestion was regarded as unrealistic and
unpatriotic by the Lithuanian media. Lithuania is apprehensive of losing the
independence of its energy sector to Russia and for this reason refused at the last moment
to
sign an agreement of cooperation between the energy companies of the Baltic
states, Russia, and Belarus in 1999.[2]
Sources: [1] "Litva otklonyayet predlozheniye
Rossii ne speshit s zakrytiyem
Ignalinskoy Atomnoy Elektrostantsii," Interfax, No. 4, 20 June 2000. [2] Lietuvos Rytas, 31 March
2000; in "Lithuanian Paper on Closure of Ignalina Nuclear Plant," FBIS
Document CEP20000401000076. {Entered by IPZ on 12/12/00}
6/20-21/2000: DONORS CONFERENCE HELD IN VILNIUS On 20 and 21 June a conference for the donors
supporting the
shutdown of Ignalina-1 was held in Vilnius.[1] The list of speakers at the
conference included Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, members of the
cabinet of Lithuania, and Representative of the European Union Gunter
Verheugen.[4] Also present at the conference were representatives of the
European Commission, the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development,
and delegations from 37 countries (including Russia).[5] The participants
discussed the importance of the Lithuanian government's decision to shut down the first unit of the Ignalina Nuclear
Power Plant before 2005; they analyzed the consequences of the shutdown and the
restructuring of the energy sector; they evaluated international assistance
offered for both aforementioned processes; finally, they
pointed out the
potential of the Lithuanian energy sector for investors, particularly private
ones.[3] The donors were invited to pledge funds to the decommissioning
fund established on 13 June 2000 under an agreement
signed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the
European Committee. The minimum contribution to the fund was set at EUR1.5
million ($1.4 million as of 26 June 2000).[1] In January 2000, the
Ignalina NPP web site listed various estimates of the cost of the shutdown
ranging between LTL4 billion and LTL17 billion ($1 billion
and $4.2
billion, respectively, as of January 2000).[2]
Sources: [1] Ariane Sains, "Donors to Pay for 12 Projects
for Ignalina-1 Shutdown," Nucleonics Week online edition, http://www.mhenergy.com,
Vol. 41, No. 26, 26 June 2000. [2] "Yanvarskaya khronika sobytiy: Elektrostantsiya meshayet i
Litve i Yevrope," Informatsionnyy list, Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Web
Site, http://www.iae.lt:80/ic/.../infostr201_ru.htm,
January 2000. [3] "Donorskaya konferentsiya vselila
nadezhdu,
chto strany mira pomogut Ignalinskoy AES," Informatsionnyy list, Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Web
Site, http://www.iae.lt:80/ic/.../infostr201_ru.htm,
July 2000. [4] "Investory v Litve obsudyat problemu
zakrytiya pervogo energobloka
Ignalinskoy AES, "Interfax, No. 4, 19 June 2000. [5] Vladimir Skripov, "Moskva khotela
arendovat Ignalinskuyu AES," Vremya MN online edition, http://news.mosinfo.ru/news/2000/.../vm062328.htm,
No. 092, 23 June 2000. {Entered on 12/05/00 by IPZ}
5/2/2000: SEIMAS PASSES LAW TO SHUT DOWN IGNALINA
REACTOR On 2 May 2000 the Lithuanian Seimas (parliament)
voted 68 to 25 to pass the law On Decommissioning the First Reactor of
the State Facility Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.[1] The purpose of the
law is to provide the legal underpinning for shutting down Ignalina's Unit
1. The law states that all work to prepare for the shutdown must be
completed by 1 January 2005, while the exact date of the final shutdown
shall be determined by the government upon consideration of the shutdown
program, the shutdown plan, and future financing (both foreign and
domestic). By 1 November 2000, the government must develop and approve the
shutdown program, which will address the legal, administrative, financial,
and technical aspects of the shutdown. Following the shutdown program,
Ignalina NPP must develop a shutdown plan (the strategy, procedures,
schedule, and sources of funding for taking Ignalina-1 off line) and a
preparatory work plan in conformity with Lithuanian legislation on
construction, nuclear energy, and other fields. According to the law, the
funding for the shutdown will be provided by the Ignalina Nuclear Power
Plant Shutdown Fund, bank loans, and other sources determined by other
Lithuanian legislation. The Lithuanian government will hold talks with
providers of foreign assistance, and every year before May 31 will inform
the Seimas of the results of these talks and of the status of the
decommissioning process. The law requires that complete financial support be
guaranteed before each phase of the shutdown process begins. The law also
states that renewed investment projects concerning Ignalina must take the
shutdown of Unit 1 into account. According to the law, Ignalina NPP is
responsible for the safety of Unit 1 before and after the shutdown.
Within a month after the law enters into force, the government must present
a bill on the Unit 1 decommissioning fund to the Seimas, and by 31 March
2002 must confirm the final plan on decommissioning Ignalina-1. Issues
such as licensing, social programs for displaced personnel, and the extent
of Ignalina's liability for damages in the event of an accident are covered
by other legislation.[2] The passage of this law fulfills Lithuania's
promise to the European Union to shut down Ignalina; EU officials have
stated that Lithuanian acceptance to the European Union is partially
dependent on the closure of this plant
Sources: [1] Lietuvos Rytas, 4 May
2000; in "Paper Slams MPs Against Nuclear Decommissioning," FBIS
Document CEP20000505000170. [2] "Zakon Litovskoy respubliki o
snyatii s ekspluatatsii pervogo bloka gosudarstvennogo predpriyatiya
Ignalinskoy atomnoy elektrostantsii," Informatsionnyy list, Ignalina
Nuclear Power Plant Web Site, http://www.iae.lt:80/ic/.../infostr201_ru.htm,
June 2000.{Entered on 11/29/00 by IPZ}
3/2/2000: FINANCIAL TROUBLES THREATEN FOREIGN AID On 2 March 2000 tax authorities seized a bank account belonging to Ignalina
NPP, which has failed to pay LTL 400 million ($100 million as of 2 March 2000)
in taxes, according to Deputy Minister of the Economy Rimantas Vaitkus. Vaitkus
confirmed that the government's lack of funds has been threatening to interrupt
international safety enhancement projects at Ignalina. The project contracts
require Lithuania to make financial contributions, which it has been unable to
do of late.[1,2]
["Proyekty usileniya bezopasnosti
Ignalinskoy AES v Litve mogut byt sorvany iz-za finansovykh problem stantsii,"
Interfax, No. 1, 2 March 2000.] {Entered 12/21/00 LBN}
2/11/2000: IGNALINA GETS LICENSE TO OPERATE
SPENT FUEL STORAGE FACILITY On 11 February 2000, VATESI granted Ignalina NPP a
five-year license to operate a dry storage facility for spent nuclear
fuel.[1] A meeting held on 11 February 2000 in Visaginas, Lithuania,
was attended by NPP experts, ministers of the economy and the environment,
local leaders, and representatives from the Lithuanian Academy of
Sciences' Institute of Physics, and from the Center for Radiation Safety,
who discussed a design for the facility, as well as its testing and use.
According to Saulius Kutas, an official from VATESI, the facility is in
compliance with all nuclear safety standards. Over a year ago, the
Ignalina NPP began testing the storage facility where spent nuclear waste
is stored in special containers. (To see a photograph of a Castor
cask, click
here.) The facility consists of a 6m high wall of reinforced concrete
enclosing an area of 2.1 hectares. According to the design, 72
Castor casks designed and manufactured by Gesellschaft fuer
Nuklear-Behaelter mbH (GNB) in Germany can be stored there. Spent
nuclear fuel can be stored in the dry storage facility for 50 years.[2]
Sources: [1] "Lithuanian Nuke Gets License
for Spent Nuclear Fuel Storage," Baltic News Service, in Lexis-Nexis
Academic Universe, 14 February 2000. [2] "Ignalinskaya AES
poluchila litsenziyu na ekspluatatsiyu khranilishcha otrabotannogo topliva
'sukhova' tipa," Interfax, 11 February 2000. {Entered 2/14/00
LBB}
2/3/2000: DOE TO AID IN IGNALINA CLOSURE US Energy Secretary Bill Richardson and government
representatives of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia signed a declaration
to continue cooperation on developing the energy sector and preventing
the greenhouse effect. Speaking at the opening ceremony of a seminar
on investment in the energy sector held near Vilnius, Richardson spoke
favorably of Lithuania's decision to close Unit 1 of the Ignalina NPP.
Richardson confirmed that the United States will provide assistance as
Lithuania seeks funding for the project.
["SShA i strany Baltii prodolzhat sotrudnichestvo
v oblasti energetiki," Interfax, 3 February 2000.] {Entered 2/10/00 LBB]
1/27/2000: SWEDEN WILL CONTINUE FUNDING FOR IGNALINA
SAFETY IMPROVEMENT On 27 January 2000, the Ignalina NPP, Lithuania's
Minister of the Economy, and the Swedish
International Project signed an agreement on cooperation in 2000.
Jan Nistad, the director of the Swedish project, told Interfax that the
Swedish government will allocate 35 million litas ($8.75 million) for the
project in 2000. In addition, the Swedish government plans to invest
about 30 million litas ($7.5 million) to fund a project to upgrade security
at the facility. Nistad said that the Swedish government will provide
Lithuania with financial assistance in the amount of 5 million litas ($1.25
million) to prepare for closing the first unit of the Ignalina NPP, which
Lithuania intends to close by 2005. Since 1991 Sweden has allocated
150 million litas ($37.5 million) to Lithuania to improve the safety of
the Ignalina NPP.
["Shvetsiya prodolzhit okazaniye pomoschi
Litve v ukreplenii bezopasnosti Ignalinskoy AES," Interfax, 27 January
2000.] {Entered 2/4/00 LBB} 12/22/99: MEMORANDUM SIGNED ON EU FUNDING FOR
IGNALINA CLOSURE On 22 December 1999, Lithuania and the European Union
signed a memorandum under which the EU, in the framework of the PHARE program,
will provide aid in the amount of Euro 10 million ($10,080,000 as of 22 December
1999) to Lithuania to finance the closure of the Ignalina nuclear power plant,
the development of the power engineering industry, and research on alternative
energy sources.[1] In October 1999, Lithuania pledged to shut down Unit
1 by 2005 and make a decision on the shutdown of Unit 2 by 2004. "We have committed
to provide Lithuania 10 million Euros this year and 20 million annually in 2000-2006,
so 150 million are already on the table," said Jean Trestour, head of the Lithuania
group at the European Commission's Directorate General for Enlargement.[2]
In an interview with Interfax, Ignalina NPP Director Viktor Shevaldin welcomed
the signing of the memorandum and confirmed that aid for 2000 is sufficient, but
expressed concern that planned allocations of up to Euro 20 million annually from
2000-2006 will not be adequate to cover costs associated with closing Unit 1,
especially after 2002. According to Lithuania's Energy Strategy report,
approved by the Seimas, the costs associated with closing Unit 1 could amount
to $10 billion. Shevaldin said that the problem of closing Unit 1 is unresolved
because the Ignalina NPP Closure Fund, consisting of electricity sales revenues,
contains 130 million litas ($32.5 million) and grows by only 30-35 million litas
($7.5-8.5 million) annually.[1]
Sources: [1] "YeS vydelit Litve 10 mln.
yevro na podgotovku ostanovki Ignalinskoy AES," Interfax, 31 December 1999. [2] Agence France Presse, 17
December 1999; in "EU Pledges 150 mln. euros for Ignalina nuclear commissioning,"
Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe, http://web.lexis-nexis.com. {Entered
1/26/00 LBB}
12/22/99: RESOLUTION PASSED TO ESTABLISH WASTE MANAGEMENT
AGENCY On 22 December 1999, the Lithuanian government passed
a resolution to set up an agency in early 2001 that would supervise nuclear waste
handling. A state-owned enterprise will be established to manage all issues
related to the storage and disposal of nuclear waste originating primarily at
the Ignalina NPP. The government instructed the Ministry of the Economy
to draft, by 1 September 2000, a program for nuclear waste management and to make
suggestions on funding and staffing for the agency.
[ITAR-TASS, 22 December 1999; in "Lithuania
To Set up Nuclear Waste Management Agency," FBIS Document FTS19991223001240.]
{Entered 2/14/00 LBB} 12/16/99: IGNALINA PREPARED FOR Y2K "Ignalina nuclear power station is fully prepared
to meet the year 2000. Its computer system will ensure safe operation
of the station in the critical period," Saulius Kutas, head of the State
Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (VATESI), told ITAR-TASS on 16 December 1999.
According to Kutas, work performed jointly by the nuclear station staff,
independent international experts, and VATESI suggests that "the likelihood
of the emergency situation on the critical date is practically zero."
On 10 December 1999 VATESI approved a wide-ranging plan drafted by the
management of the Ignalina nuclear power station that detailed the steps
to be taken in the event of an emergency. According to the plan,
a group of nuclear experts and computer specialists will be on duty at
the power plant accompanied by managerial staff. Kutas noted that
the plant will be in communication with the IAEA and with facilities to
the east, which will make the transition to the year 2000 earlier.[1]
According to a VATESI press release from 14 December 1999, 11 systems in
the plant were not modified or replaced, but they do not affect nuclear
safety. Replacement of the systems may be delayed for up to three
months because of financial problems. State-of-the-art Western technologies
and other safety equipment have been installed at the Ignalina NPP in recent
years.[2]
Sources: [I] ITAR-TASS, 16 Decmber 1999,
in "Y2K: Lithuanian Nuclear Plant Declared Compliant," FBIS Document FTS19991216000855,
16 December 1999. [2] BNS, 14 December 1999, in "Y2K:
Lithuania--Ignalina AES Ready for Transition," FBIS Document FTS19991214001370,
14 December 1999. {Entered 2/16/00 LBB}
9/17/99: SECURITY IMPROVED AT STRATEGIC
FACILITIES The Border Police Department told Interfax
on 17 September 1999 that Lithuania increased the security at strategic
facilities and tightened border control after a recent round of bombings
in Russia. On the order of Chief Border police Commissar Algimantas
Songaila, Ignalina NPP and some strategic oil-related facilities will be
guarded more carefully.
["Lithuania To Beef Up Security At Security At Strategic
Facilities After Bombings in Russia," Interfax, 17 September 1999.] {Entered
2/18/99 LBB}
8/3/99: BOTH IGNALINA REACTORS BACK IN OPERATION Unit 1 received a safety license from VATESI on 28 July 1999 and was consequently
restarted on 3 August 1999.[1,2] Ignalina's Unit 2, which was shut down
for scheduled maintenance on 30 March 1999, resumed operating on 14 June
1999.[3]
Sources: [1] "Litovskiye vlasti razreshili ekspluatatsiyu pervogo
energobloka Ignalinskoy AES," Interfax, No.3, 28 July 1999. [2] Radio Vilnius, 3 August 1999; in "Ignalina Nuclear Plant
Restarts Reactor," FBIS Document FTS19990809000582. [3] Agence France Presse, 14 June 1999; in "Ignalina nuclear
power plant reopens," Lexis-Nexis Academic Universe,
http://web.lexis-nexis.com/universe.{entered
8/17/99 FW}
5/21/99: IGNALINA UNIT 1 SHUT DOWN DUE
TO LACK OF SAFETY LICENSE Unit 1 at the Ignalina plant was shut down on 21 May 1999, leaving no operational
reactors at the plant, as Unit 2 was shut down for maintenance in March.
VATESI delayed the issuance of a license to operate Unit 1 because the
unit's safety program was not completed by the 17 May deadline.[1] Unit
1 may remain shut down for up to one month, while Unit 2 is scheduled to
resume operation in June. About 40 Ignalina plant workers protested the
impending shutdown in Vilnius on 14 May 1999, also demanding the right
to sell electricity directly without going through Lietuvos Energija, the
state utility company.[2]
Sources: [1] "V Litve ostanovlena ignalinskaya atomnaya elektrostantsiya,"
Interfax, 22 May 1999. [2] Genevieve Zalatorius, "Lithuania: Employees Protest Closing
of Nuclear Plant," Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website, http://www.rferl.org/.../F.RU.990514141509.html,
16 May 1999.{entered 6/14/99 FW}
5/19/99: GRENADE FOUND IN IGNALINA TURBINE SECTION On 19 May 1999, a cleaning lady found a grenade in
a restroom in the turbine section of Unit 1 at the Ignalina nuclear power
plant. Gennadiy Yefimov, Chief Procurator of the city of Visaginas, could
not immediately say whether the grenade contained an explosive charge or
was a dummy training model. The incident was referred to the State
Security Service for investigation.[1,2] It is not known whether the incident
was connected to protests over the impending
shutdown of Unit 1.
Sources: [1] "Possible hand grenade found in
Lithuania's Nuclear Plant," Interfax, 20 May 1999. [2] "Granata na AES," Sovetskaya
Belorussiya, online edition, http://sb.press.net.by/archive/1999/05/21/sb107-1u.shtml,
21 May 1999. {entered 6/15/99 FW}
3/29/99: EUROPEAN REGULATORS SAY IGNALINA CAN'T
MEET SAFETY STANDARDS In a report released on 29 March 1999, the Western
European Nuclear Regulators' Association reported that the lack of adequate
reactor containment and the lower reliability of shutdown systems at the
Ignalina nuclear power plant were fundamental weaknesses for which improvements
in operational safety could not compensate. While praising the ongoing
safety program at Ignalina and encouraging further safety enhancements,
the report concluded that the Ignalina reactors could not achieve safety
standards comparable to those in force for older reactors in Western Europe.[1]
Saulius Kutas, director of the Lithuanian
State Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (VATESI), agreed with the report's
finding that his agency needs more resources to monitor the Ignalina plant
effectively, but said he had not seen the full report and could not comment
on its conclusions on the plant's safety.[2]
Sources: [1] Ann MacLachlan, "Western European
regulators say Ignalina can't meet safety norms," Nucleonics Week,
Vol. 40, No. 13, 1 April 1999, pp. 1, 10-12. [2] Ariane Sains, "More experts needed
to monitor Ignalina safety, regulator says," Nucleonics Week, Vol.
40, No. 13, 1 April 1999, p. 12.{entered 6/14/99 FW}
2/25/99: IGNALINA SHUTDOWNS INCREASING According to a report released by the plant's information center, twice
as many unscheduled shutdowns occurred at Ignalina in 1998 as there were
in 1997. The reactors at Ignalina were shut down a total of four times
during 1998, and twice in January 1999. During the first week of January
1999, Unit 2 was shut down for three days due to a turbine problem. Later
in January, Unit 1 was shut down for less than 24 hours when the main circulation
pump became disconnected. Twenty minor incidents, rated zero on the INES
incident scale, were reported in 1998, but none of these events affected
radiation levels or damaged any equipment. According to Thomas Nilsen of
the Bellona Foundation, this number of incidents is much higher than would
be considered normal at Western nuclear plants, and is high even when compared
to other Soviet-built facilities. The report does show, however, that emergency
procedures are working.
[Daniel Silva, "Shutdowns rose at Ignalina last year," Baltic
Times, 25 February-3 March 1999, p. 6.]{entered 4/3/99 FW} 12/1/98: IGNALINA SPENT FUEL STORAGE FACILITY COMPLETED Construction of the interim spent fuel storage facility at the Ignalina NPP has been completed. According to a Radio Vilnius report,
the site has a capacity of 72 containers for spent fuel storage.
The plant has purchased 20 storage containers manufactured in Germany and
will soon purchase an additional 40 containers. In the future, storage
containers will be produced in Lithuania using designs developed by Atomic
Energy of Canada Ltd. (AECL).
[Radio Vilnius broadcast, 1 December 1998; in "Spent Nuclear
Fuel Site Built at Ignalina," FBIS-SOV-98-335.]{entered 1/12/99 FW}
10/20/98: NEW SAFETY SYSTEMS IN IGNALINA-1 According to Lithuanian State Nuclear
Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) Head Saulius Kutas, additional safety systems were
installed in the first unit of the Ignalina nuclear power plant.
The reactor was restarted on 16 October 1998. A new computerized system
was also assembled to ensure safety and better control of the reactor.
By May 1999, VATESI is to prepare a license for the further operation of
the reactor. Other repairs are also scheduled for 1999.
[BNS, 20 October 1998; in "Ignalina
Reactor Reported Safer After Repairs," FBIS-SOV-98-293] {Entered 11/30/98 NK}
10/19/98: IGNALINA SPENT FUEL STORAGE CONSTRUCTION TAKEN OVER BY AECL The Lithuanian Ministry of the Economy approved Atomic Energy of Canada
Ltd. (AECL) as the contractor for the construction of an interim spent
fuel storage facility at the Ignalina NPP. The plant management
tried to retain their current contractor, Gesellschaft fuer Nuklear-Behaelter
mbH (GNB), but they did not succeed. The storage facility is planned to
be built on the spot that was intended for the third reactor. However,
the contract will not be signed until the government, in consultation with
local authorities, approves siting of the facility, which is not expected
sooner than the end of 1998. GNB is currently supplying Ignalina with 60
Castor cast iron storage casks, which are going through cold-testing, and
is building storage for the casks; construction of a transportation platform
is almost finished. The remainder of the plant's storage requirements will
be met by AECL. GNB accused AECL of "influence-peddling and misrepresenting GNB." GNB's general manager Ralf Peters stated that he thinks the decision
was politically motivated; plant officials did not like the arrangement
with AECL either. Initial costs for both the AECL and GNB systems are almost
the same, around $19 million. The facility will eventually include four
AECL storage modules, each able to hold 64 casks with 102 fuel elements.
Construction of the first phase of the facility will include a special
transport system, manufactured in Canada, for moving spent fuel from cooling
ponds to the storage facility. According to Jurgis Vilemas Director
of the Lithuanian Energy Institute, costs will drop significantly after
the first phase is completed because most of the manufacturing, including
the concrete storage modules, will be done in Lithuania.
[Ariane Sains, Ann MacLachlan, "Lithuania Approves AECL,
Not GNB, For Ignalina Spent Fuel Storage," NuclearFuel, 19 October
1998, pp.14-15.] {Entered 12/02/98 NK} 10/3/98: LITHUANIAN PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED ABOUT IGNALINA DECOMMISSIONING Lithuanian Prime Minister Gediminas Vagnorius said that Lithuania had proposed
to European Commission President Jacques Santer and to the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development the establishment of an independent
international commission for consultation on the possible shutdown of the
Ignalina nuclear power plant. According to Vagnorius, the Ignalina
nuclear power plant can safely operate until 2015-2020, if it is re-equipped.
When asked about financial aid for Ignalina decommissioning, Vagnorius
said that according to a Swedish study, the shutdown will cost FFr13 billion
(approximately $2.44 billion). Another FFr19 (approximately $3.44 billion)
will be needed to ease the transition, both economically and socially,
after Ignalina is closed.
[Philippe Lemaitre, "Three Questions to...," Le Monde,
3 October 1998, p. 4; in "Premier Questioned on Closure of Ignalina Nuclear
Plant," FBIS-TEN-98-279] {Entered 1/12/98 NK} 9/2/98: CLOSING IGNALINA TOO EXPENSIVE According to Swedish expert assessments presented at an international seminar
on 2 September 1998, the premature closure of the Ignalina nuclear power
plant will cost $3.3 billion to $3.9 billion.[1,2] Enormous expenses, electricity
production losses, and the fact that shifting to thermal stations will
cause a 100 percent increase in electricity prices made Lithuania consider
other options.[1] According to Deputy Minister of the Economy Viktoras
Valentukevicius, replacement of the fuel channels will allow the station
to function up to 2020-2025.[2]
Sources: [1] ELTA, 2 September 1998; in "Study Shows High Cost Of
Closing Lithuanian Nuclear Plant," FBIS-SOV-98-246. [2] "Dosrochnaya Ostanovka Ekspluatatsii Ignalinskoy AES
Prichinit Litve Ubytki $3,3-3,9 mlrd - Vyvody Ekspertov," Interfax, 2 September
1998. {Entered 10/8/98 NK} 7/24/98: COMMISSION ESTABLISHED TO CERTIFY IGNALINA STORAGE FACILITY The Lithuanian Cabinet has established a commission to certify a new open-air
waste storage facility at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant. Stasys
Motiejunas, Chairman of the Radioactive Materials Department of the Environment
Ministry, was appointed head of the commission. Motiejunas said that
the open-air facility will hold 70 containers (to be produced by the German
company GNB), which will provide a temporary storage area for spent fuel
rods. Lithuania is still considering several options for long-term nuclear
waste storage, including deep geological dumps and underground regional
dumping sites.
[BNS, 24 July 1998; in "Ignalina Nuclear Plant Completes
Waste Storage Site," FBIS-TAC-98-205] {Entered 10/5/98 NK}
6/22/98: IAEA DIRECTOR SAYS CLOSING IGNALINA STILL PREMATURE Mohamed El Baradei, Director General of the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) told Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus, visiting Vienna
on 22 June 1998, that he could understand why a country that depended on
a single nuclear plant for 82 percent of its electric power could not suddenly
phase it out. El Baradei expressed his pleasure with cooperation
between Lithuania and the IAEA and mentioned the IAEA's ongoing $100 million
technical aid program. Adamkus said that although he had criticized the
safety of the Ignalina plant in Soviet times, international programs have
greatly increased the plant's safety in recent years.
[ELTA, 22 June 1998.] {entered 8/11/98 FW} 6/98: IGNALINA SIGNS NEW FUEL CONTRACT In June 1998, the Ignalina nuclear power plant signed
a contract with the Russian joint stock company TVEL to deliver nuclear
fuel. The agreement reportedly covers fuel shipments for the remainder
of the reactor's operating life.
[Igor Kudrik, "Russia will supply Ignalina
NPP with fuel: EBRD will shut the plant down," Bellona website, http://www.bellona.no/e/russia/980717.htm.]{entered
8/11/98 FW} 5/5/98: IGNALINA TO BE LICENSED PER AGREEMENT WITH EBRD The Lithuanian State Nuclear Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) will prepare
a license for the continuing operation of Unit 1 at the Ignalina nuclear
power plant by May 1999. This license is required under the terms
of a 1994 agreement between the Ignalina plant, the Lithuanian Energy Ministry,
and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) which provided
for ECU33 million ($36.5 million), and subsequently an additional ECU6
million ($6.6 million) for implementation of new safety measures.[1] A
statement from the Seimas (parliament) press service denied media reports
that Lithuania had promised the European Commission to shut down the Ignalina
plant, and VATESI Director Saulis Kutas likewise said the reports were
erroneous.[2]
Sources: [1] ELTA news service report, 5 May 1998, in "Lithuanian
Officials 'Never' Promised to Shut Nuclear Plant," FBIS-SOV-98-125. [2] Radio Vilnius broadcast, 6 May 1998, in "Lithuanian Nuclear
Power Station to Continue Operating," FBIS-SOV-98-126. {entered 8/11/98 FW}
4/30/98: NUCLEAR INSPECTORATE HEAD SAYS IGNALINA
IS SAFE Saulius Kutas, head of the State Nuclear Energy Safety
Inspectorate (VATESI) said in April 1998 that all safety measures recommended
by international specialists in 1997 had been implemented, and therefore
there was no need to shut down the Ignalina plant for extensive overhauls.
Kutas denied that Lithuania had made promises to close the plant, saying
that "Lithuania has never made pledges anywhere to shut down the nuclear
power station. Lithuania has only committed itself not to operate
its nuclear power plant unless it is safe to do so."[1] Kutas also emphasized
that $22 million would be spent on safety improvements at Ignalina in 1998,
and that there were only two unscheduled reactor shutdowns at the plant
in 1997, down from seven in 1996.[2]
Sources: [1] Lithuanian television broadcast,
Channel 1, 30 April 1998, in "Inspector Stresses Safety of Lithuania's
Ignalina Plant," FBIS-SOV-98-120. [2] "V ukrepleniye bezopasnosti Ignalinskoy AES (Litva) v etom
godu budet investirovano $22 mln." Interfax, 30 April 1998.{entered 8/11/98 FW}
4/21/98: PRESIDENT, PREMIER SAY NO IGNALINA SHUTDOWN BEFORE 2005 Lithuania's Foreign Policy Coordination Council, chaired by President Valdas
Adamkus, said on 21 April 1998 that research by international organizations
does not support the conclusion that the Ignalina nuclear power plant should
soon be closed, and therefore closure of the plant would not be considered
before 2005. Premier Gediminas Vagnorius said that according to international
experts, applying world standards in inspecting the plant, the first unit
at Ignalina could operate with existing fuel channels until 2005 while
the second could operate until 2010. Vagnorius also emphasized that Lithuania
opposed any linkage between the Ignalina issue and membership in the EU.[1]
President Adamkus asserted that he will not give in to European pressure
for an early shutdown of the Ignalina plant. [2]
Sources: [1] "Lithuania puts off the issue of Ignalina nuclear plant
to the year 2005," ELTA, 21 April 1998. [2] Nikolay Lashkevich, "Lithuania will keep its nuclear
electric power station," Izvestiya, 25 April 1998, p. 3, in "Lithuanian
President Opposes Nuclear Plant Closure," FBIS-SOV-98-117.{entered 8/11/98 FW}
4/9/98: VILEMAS SAYS ECONOMICS FAVORS KEEPING IGNALINA IN OPERATION Jurgis Vilemas, director of the Lithuanian Energy Institute, said that
rechanneling the two reactors of the Ignalina nuclear power plant "looks
very attractive from the economic point of view" and that the Lithuanian
government will likely make a decision on rechanneling later in 1998. The
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) maintains that
Lithuania agreed not to rechannel the 1,500 MW RBMK reactors under the
terms of a grant for safety improvements, and is also concerned that plans
to build a high voltage transmission line to Poland could give Lithuania
another reason to keep Ignalina operating.
["Economics said to favor keeping Ignalina operating," Nucleonics
Week, 9 April 1998, p. 7.]{entered 8/11/98 FW}
3/19/98: EU ENVIRONMENTAL COMMISSIONER SAYS IGNALINA MUST SHUT DOWN After touring the Ignalina nuclear power plant on 17 March 1998, European
Union Environmental Commissioner Ritt Bjerregaard was favorably impressed
with the plant's safety measures, but nevertheless said that the plant
must be shut down in the near future if Lithuania expects to join the EU.
The Director of the Lithuanian Energy Institute, Jurgis Vilemas, responded
by saying, "This insistence on shutting Ignalina down is just some principle,
a political maneuver...they are putting Lithuania in a very difficult position."
Vilemas said that international studies have shown that the plant's power
units are in better condition than they were previously thought to be,
and that while there would be no technical problems in closing the plant
or replacing the plant's generating capacity with fossil fuels and cogeneration
plants, decommissioning the Ignalina plant would cost "billions of dollars."
["Bjerregaard says Ignalina closure is Lithuania's ticket
into EU," Nucleonics Week, 19 March 1998, p. 5.]{entered 8/11/98
FW}
3/12/98: LITHUANIA AND DENMARK SIGN SAFETY
AGREEMENT On 12 March 1998 Lithuania and Denmark signed a cooperation
agreement worth $250,000 on nuclear and radiation safety. According to
the head of radioactive substances division of the Lithuanian Environment
Ministry, Stasys Motiejunas, discussions with Denmark on this issue started
in 1993. Since then, Lithuania has received eight high-sensitivity gamma
monitoring stations, four of which operate near the Ignalina NPP. These
stations transmit data on environmental radiation levels to a computer
center at the Environment Ministry. Plans exist to set up a common radiation
safety information system in the Baltic Sea region, with a surveillance
station in Kaunas.
["Lithuania To Fortify A Nuclear And
Radiation Safety By A Bilateral Agreement," ELTA, No. 107, 13 March 1998.]
{Entered 10/2/98 NK}
3/10/98: NORWAY PLEDGES FUNDS FOR IGNALINA
SAFETY Norwegian Foreign Minister Knut Vollebaek announced
in Vilnius that his government will donate nearly $4 million to Lithuania
in 1998, a third of which will be directed toward safety improvements at
Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant.[1] He stated at a press conference
that Ignalina represents not only a threat to Lithuania, but to the whole
region.[2] Vollebaek met with Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus
and Foreign Minister Algirdas Saudargas.[1]
Sources: [1] "Foreign Minister Says Norway Increases
Bankrolling of Lithuania," ELTA, No. 103, 11 March 1998. [2] "Norway Promises Safety Funding
for Ignalina Reactor in Lithuania," ETA Baltic Economic News, 10 March
1998. {entered 3/13/98 djw}
3/7/98: ADAMKUS PROPOSES BUILDING A NEW REACTOR UNIT Lithuanian President Valdas Adamkus stated that Lithuania should begin
a "radical modernization" of the Ignalina power plant during his five-year
term in office. He stated that Lithuania should not reject nuclear
energy, which is the cleanest and cheapest kind of energy. Adamkus
hopes to attract international financial assistance for the construction
of a new third reactor, after which Lithuania will shut down Units 1 and
2. Lithuania has already pledged to shut down Units 1 and 2 by 2005
and 2010, respectively, but has been unable to provide the $600 million
necessary for the projects or to attract supplementary power sources to
compensate for the loss of energy the units currently provide.
["Lithuania To Start Upgrading Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant,"
Interfax, No. 2, 7 March 1997.] {entered 3/13/98 djw} 3/5/98: IGNALINA UNIT 1 RESUMES OPERATION FOLLOWING SHUTDOWN Ignalina-1 resumed power generation two days after an operator's error
caused a shutdown. The mistake occurred during a check of the unit's
control system. No other equipment faults or changes in radiation
levels occurred. Unit 2 operated without interruption.[1] Although
the shutdown did not affect local energy consumption, Lithuania failed
to deliver 4.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity to neighboring Belarus.[2]
[1] "Reactor Restarted at Lithuanian Nuclear Plant After
Two-Day Stoppage," ETA, 6 March 1998; in Internet Securities, http://www.securities.com,
7 March 1998. [2] "Ignalina Stoppage Disrupts Electricity Export to Belarus,"
Baltic News Service, 5 March 1998.{entered 3/13/98 djw}
3/98: EBRD REPORT SAYS IGNALINA SHUTDOWN BEFORE 2004 NOT NEEDED A report prepared for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
(EBRD) in March 1998 concluded that investments to improve safety and allow
Ignalina's two reactors to operate into the next century are generally
justified, and that shutting down the plant before 2004 is not warranted.
["Ignalina can run to 2004," Nuclear Engineering International,
vol. 43, no. 524, March 1998, p. 6.]{entered 8/11/98 FW}
2/2/98: LITHUANIAN PRESIDENT-ELECT SUPPORTS NEW REACTOR Newly elected President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus told Swedish journalists
that although the Ignalina NPP does not present a threat to Lithuania,
he would like Lithuania to consider constructing new nuclear power facilities
in the future.
[Lillemor Idling, "Lithuania: New Nuclear Power Could Replace
Ignalina," Tidningarnas Telegrambyra, 2 February 1998; in "Adamkus
on Nuclear Energy, Death Penalty, EU, NATO," FBIS-TEN-98-034.] {entered
2/13/98 djw}
2/98: SWEDEN RENEWS COMMITMENT TO IGNALINA SAFETY
ASSISTANCE The government and parliament of Sweden decided in
1998 to continue the Swedish program of safety assistance to the Ignalina
nuclear power plant for two to three years. From 1994 to 1996, the Swedish
International Project (SIP) provided SKr95.7 million ($11.9 million) in
safety equipment for the Ignalina plant, including a robotic tool and improvements
in fire protection, communications, and access control hardware.
Safety training and technology transfer over the same period totaled SKr108.3
million ($13.5 million), including safety analysis, waste management, emergency
preparedness, and radiation protection. SIP has budgeted SKr70 million
($8.7 million) for equipment, training, and technology transfer in 1998.
[Swedish International Project Nuclear
Safety website, http://www.iae.lt/ic/Bendr/sip_eng.htm.]{entered
8/11/98 FW}
1/12/98: POLICE ARREST TWO LITHUANIANS TRYING TO SELL RADIOACTIVE
MATERIAL Police arrested two Lithuanian citizens, Vladimir Yefremenkov and Boris
Shedogubov, in Vilnius for attempting to sell 30kg of highly radioactive
material for 84,000 litas ($21,000). Ten kilograms of the material was found
in the automobile of one of the suspects, while the remaining 20kg was
located in the suspect's garage.[1] Although the material (one source
presumed it to be uranium) was packed in lead containers, the radiation
level surrounding the containers was reportedly many times above permitted
safe levels.[2] Lithuanian Special Investigation Service spokesman
Mindaugas Sejunas stated that it had been imported into Lithuania before
1990 and had been buried in a Vilnius cemetery prior to its confiscation.
He denied reports that the material originated from the Ignalina nuclear
power plant. Prosecutors will charge the two suspects on illegal
acquisition, possession, and use of radioactive material, which carries
a maximum five-year prison sentence.[1]
Sources: [1] Baltic News Service, 14 January 1998; in "Uranium Found
in Vilnius Said Imported Before Independence," FBIS-SOV-98-014. [2] "Segodnya" broadcast, NTV, 14 January 1998; in "Radioactive
Material May Have Been Stolen," FBIS-TAC-98-016, 16 January 1998. {entered
1/30/98 djw}
1/98: SWEDISH SAFETY EXPERTS COMPLETE FIRE
SAFETY INSPECTION Swedish experts completed the last in a three-month
series of Swedish-funded safety inspections at Ignalina power plant.
Chief engineer Gennadijus Negrivoda stated that the group conducted various
possible fire scenarios and analyzed different fire prevention plans at
the plant. The specialists will draft a report on suggestions for
fire prevention improvements in the fall of 1998.
["Swedes Vet Lithuanian Ignalina Plant's
Fire Safety," Baltic News Service, 3 February 1998.] {entered 2/15/98 djw}
1/98: REPORT DEEMS SHUTDOWN TOO EXPENSIVE A least-cost analysis issued by Environmental Resources Management (ERM)
concluded that shutting down Ignalina before 2004 may not be economically
justified. The Nuclear Safety Account (NSA) agreement stipulates
that Ignalina be shut down once its fuel channels need replacement early
in the next century. However, the ERM report, prepared for the European
Bank for Reconstruction and Development, justified extending Ignalina's
life through safety improvements because nuclear power after 2004 will
still be the most inexpensive way for Lithuania to generate electricity.
ERM suggested a secondary shutdown system as one safety improvement if
the units are permitted to operate after 2003. Nucleonics Week
stated that this report "clearly opens the door" for governmental discussions
to replace the fuel channels in order for Ignalina's two reactors to resume
operations for another 20 years. The government continues to claim
that it will honor the NSA agreement, however. Unnamed sources state
that rechanneling Ignalina may cost nearly $100 million, which is much
less expensive than the cost of building a new power plant of any kind.
Another study released in January 1998 suggested exploiting a profitable
"Baltic Ring" grid to export electricity to neighboring countries.
Such a grid could further justify investing in the continued operation
of Ignalina.
[Ariane Sains, "Economic Study Says Ignalina Is Lithuania's
Least-Cost Option," Nucleonics Week, 29 January 1998, pp. 6-7.]
{entered 2/13/98 djw}
