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This section focuses on governmental organizations that play a
role in nuclear issues and export controls in Lithuania. It is not a
comprehensive listing of all government bodies in Lithuania. Additional
information on the government of Lithuania may be found on websites maintained
by the US
Department of Commerce, the CIA,
and the government
of Lithuania.
Click here for an overview of VATESI.
Director: Saulius Kutas
Former Minister of Energy Kutas replaced Povilas Vaisnys,
who was appointed to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The following list of VATESI divisions had not been formally
instituted as of April 1997, but they are in effect de facto:
State Inspector: Juryj Simastin, Nikolai Polushkin,
and Savkatas Murzakajev
Safety Assessment Department: Michail Demchenko, Dainius
Brandisauskas, Emilius Vanagas
Department of Norms and Regulations: Aleksandr Alejev,
Gytis Maksimovas, Vytautas Aranauskas, Ovidijus Sestokas
Nuclear Materials Control Department: Sigitas Kurselis,
Arvydas Stadalnikas
Department of Radiation Protection: Rimantas Krenevicius,
Darius Ancius
Established in March 1992 at the Lithuanian Energy Institute in Kaunas,
ISAG is involved in several assistance and cooperation programs in the
area of nuclear safety. The goals of ISAG are to gain a thorough understanding
of the basic processes of RBMK-1500 reactors; to gather and analyze design
and operational data; to record and rank safety issues at Ignalina; to
analyze the consequences of simulated accidents at the plant; and to provide
professional technical and scientific consultation to the VATESI, the government
and the international community.[1,2]
Established in January 1997 in Vilnius, the Licensing Assistance Project
(LAP) is working to ease the burden on the Lithuanian organizations licensing
Ignalina Unit 1 by mid-1998.[1] Lithuania agreed to issue a Western-standard
license for Unit 1 in 1995 according to the Grant Agreement with the Nuclear
Safety Account of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.[2]
In addition to experts from Lithuania, the LAP is comprised of experts
from Sweden, the United States, the United Kingdom, Finland, Germany, and
France.[1] VATESI head Saulius Kutas has expressed doubt that Unit 1 will
be ready for licensing before 1999.[3]
The objectives of the LAP are:
-
Share information from the Safety Analysis Report review with VATESI and
the Technical Support Organizations (TSOs).
-
Assist VATESI in investigating which problems to address at the plant and
how to analyze results.
-
Assist VATESI and the TSOs in establishing long-term proficiency in performing
their regulatory activities.[1]
For further information on licensing Unit 1 please refer to the Ignalina
Developments section.
Director: Jurgis Vilemas
Ignalina Safety Department: Eugenijus Uspuras
Assistant Director: Vidmantas Remeikis
The NRSAC involves experts from Finland, Germany, Lithuania, Russia, Sweden,
Ukraine, and United Kingdom. The committee, in conjunction with the Ignalina
NPP, VATESI, and the Ministry of National Economy, is working to advise
on safety upgrades and establish a regulatory infrastructure.
Chairman: Jurgis Vilemas (also Director of the Lithuanian Energy
Institute)
Secretary: Eugenijus Uspuras (also Deputy Head of Ignalina Safety
Analysis Group, Lithuanian Energy Institute)
On 20 May 1999, the Seimas adopted the Law on the
Management of Radioactive Waste, which authorized the Ministry of the
National Economy to set up a Radioactive Waste Management Agency. This
agency will organize disposal of all radioactive waste handed over to it
in accordance with safety regulations and will manage depositories for
radioactive materials.
President: Valdas Adamkus
Only ministries with a direct or indirect relationship to nuclear developments
are listed in this file. It is not intended to be comprehensive guide to
the composition of the Lithuanian government.
Prime Minister:
Andrius Kubilius
Kubilius was appointed 3 November 1999, after Rolandas
Paksas resigned along with Minister of the Economy Eugenijus Maldeikis
and Finance Minister Jonas Lionginas.
Minister: Ceslovas Stankevicius
Deputy Minister: Valdas Serapinas
Commander of the Lithuanian Army: Jonas Kronkaitis
Minister: Saulius Kutas
On 12 December 1996, the Seimas ratified amendments to the law On the
Government of the Republic of Lithuania, transferring the functions
of the Ministry of Power Engineering and the Ministry of Industry and Trade
to the Ministry of National Economy.[1] The Ministries of the National
Economy, Health and Environmental Protection regulate the use of nuclear
energy in conjunction with VATESI.[2]
Minister: Valentinas Milaknis
Ministry Duties:
-
Performs the function of founder of Ignalina NPP and its operating organizations.
-
Implements state policy in the sphere of nuclear energy.
-
Organizes bilateral and multilateral international cooperation in the nuclear
energy sector.
-
Organizes nuclear accident prevention, accident management, and the investigation
and follow-up of a nuclear accident.
-
Represents the government of Lithuania in international nuclear energy
organizations and conferences.
-
Explores sites for the construction of a new nuclear power plant.
-
Once a new site is approved, the Ministry proceeds with the legal formalities
of acquiring the site.
-
Organizes the development of the nuclear energy infrastructure in Lithuania
by establishing institutions of design, science, and technology (in coordination
with the Ministry of Education and Science) to meet the needs of Ignalina.
-
Performs the functions established by this Law and those assigned by the
government of Lithuania.[1]
-
Coordinates and executes the Lithuanian export control system.[2]
Department of Export-Import Regulations: Rimantas Segzda
Division of Nuclear Energy:
Vytautas Bieliauskas
Radioactive Waste Management
Agency
(For details on this agency, see
above.)
Address: Zveju
Street 14, LT-2600 Vilnius
Phone: (370 2) 78 24 06
Fax: (370 2) 22 67 36
E-mail: lietuvos.energija@lpc.lt
http://www.lpc.lt
Ministry of the National Economy.
The government owns 85.8% of Lietuvos Energija,
foreign shareholders account for 9.8% of ownership, and other shareholders
account for 4.4%.
General Director: Arunas
Kesarauskas
Lietuvos Energija AB was registered on 4 December
1995. Since the approval of the
National Energy Strategy by the Seimas on 5 October 1999, Lietuvos Energija
has worked to promote market liberalization and
competitive conditions in the electricity sector.
Lietuvos Energija AB owns the country's largest
non-nuclear power plants, and holds a monopoly on electricity
transmission and distribution in Lithuania. The main function of Lietuvos
Energija AB is to supply electricity to Lithuanian
consumers and to manage energy enterprises owned by the company. Lietuvos
Energija AB is the sole buyer and contractor of all the power generated in
Lithuania. It sells electricity to 1.33 million Lithuanian consumers and
also exports power to the neighboring
energy systems of Latvia and Belarus. About 73% of Lithuania's electricity is
generated at Ignalina NPP, which makes the plant a crucial part of the
Lithuanian power network and Lietuvos Energija's main supplier.
Lietuvos Energija transmits and distributes electricity
via seven regional electric utilities: Vilnius, Kaunas, Klaipeda, Siauliai,
Panevezis, Alytus and Utena.
Lietuvos Energija AB is a member of the Union of the
Electricity Industry, World Energy Council, Association of Baltic Sea Region
Power Companies, and Lithuanian Confederation of Industrialists.
The Ministries of the National Economy, Health and Environmental Protection
regulate the use of nuclear energy in conjunction with VATESI.
Minister: Danius Lygis
Minister: Algirdas Saudargas
The Ministries of the National Economy, Health and Environmental Protection
regulate the use of nuclear energy in conjunction with VATESI.
Minister: Raimundas
Alekna
Minister: Ceslovas Blazys
Head of Customs Department: Kazys Pednycia
Head of Environmental Department: R. Liuzinas
Head of Security Department: Jurgis Jurgelis
Chairman of Seimas (Parliament): Vytautas Landsbergis
Elected 25 November 1996.
Last updated 17 May 2001
Comments or questions? Contact Kenley Butler at
MIIS CNS: Kenley.Butler@miis.edu
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