Summary

The project wider objective consisted in providing technical support to VATESI in decommissioning related activities to be performed within Phase 1 of the IIDSF programme, covering the following topics:

• Review of Ignalina NPP's (INPP) licensing submittals prepared by the INPP/DPMU, thereby ensuring a level of safety that is comparable to Western EU member state practices.
  

• />Enhancement of VATESI and TSOs capabilities in the field of evaluation of licensing submittals.
  

/>The main objectives of the Lithuanian and EU TSOs' review work were:

• />Assessment of safety specifications;
  

• Fulfilment of safety specifications;
  

• Compliance with regulations in force.
  

The particular objectives of the Lithuanian TSO review work were:

• Assessment of analyses and calculations (e.g. safety analyses) concerning the design;
  

• Fulfilment of Lithuanian rules and regulations.
  

The particular objectives of the EU TSOs' review work were:

• Comparison of the design and upgrading measures with technical solutions and standards in Western countries;
  

• Concentration on the systems interfaces.
  

The project has been carried out through two tasks:

Task 1: Review of INPP's licensing submittals

The TSOs had to review safety-related documents prepared by INPP/PMU and assist VATESI in giving adequate advice to the licensee on acceptance criteria for application documents. Task 1 was divided into the following sub-tasks, related to evaluation of safety documentation in the framework of licensing procedures:

• Sub-Task 1.1: Licensing of shutdown operations for the INPP Unit 1
  

• Sub-Task 1.2: Justification of single unit operation for INPP Unit 2
  

• Sub-Task 1.3: Implementation of spent resins solidification facility
  

• Sub-Task 1.4: Interim storage facility for RBMK spent fuel assemblies (cancelled in the course of the project)
  

• Sub-Task 1.5: Modernisation of existing solid radioactive waste handling and storage facilities (cancelled in the course of the project)
  

• Sub-Task 1.6: Review of final decommissioning plan
  

Task 2: Enhancement of VATESI and TSO's capabilities in the field of evaluation of licensing submittals

/> />Training on a code for evaluation of impact of LIL nuclear waste and delivery to VATESI of the selected codes constituted a main part of Task 2, with secondment at VATESI's premises. An additional task completed this Task 2, in order to replace Sub- Tasks 1.4 and 1.5, which could not be carried out because of delays in the submittal by INPP/DPMU to VATESI of the licensing documentation. This task consisted in the workshop held in
France/>/> on treatment of damaged fuel, and waste retrieval and characterization.

/>Task 2 was thus formally divided into the following sub-tasks:

• Sub-Task 2.1: Training on audit calculations
  

• Sub-Task 2.2: Secondment of Western EU experts at VATESI premises
  

• Sub-Task 2.3: Training activity on treatment of waste and damaged fuel

Beneficiary Ornganisation Details

State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI):
http://www.vatesi.lt

Project Aims

The main objective of the project was to continue technical assistance provided to VATESI within project LI/TS/10/99, related to the decommissioning activities. Building on the past achievements, the technical assistance under this current project had to cover:

• Review of Ignalina NPP's (INPP) licensing submittals, which will be prepared by the INPP/DPMU, thereby ensuring a level of safety that is comparable to EU member state standards;
• Enhancement of VATESIs capabilities in the field of evaluation of licensing submittals.

Project Results

The project was divided into two main tasks devoted respectively to evaluating safety related documentation in the framework of licensing procedures (task 1) and providing training to VATESI and Lithuanian TSOs in the field of audit calculations and waste and damaged fuel treatment (task 2).

Task 1 was further subdivided to:
Task 1.1 - Licensing of shutdown operations for the INPP Unit 1
Task 1.2 - Justification of single unit operation for INPP Unit 2
Task 1.3 - Evaluation of the updated SAR of the cementation facility
Task 1.4 - evaluation of the PSARs on the interim storage facility for RBMK spent fuel assemblies
Task 1.5 -evaluation of the Modernization of existing solid radioactive waste handling and storage facilities
Task 1.6 - evaluation of the implementation of spent resins solidification facility

(Task 1.4 and 1.5 were replaced by relevant training activities for VATESI staff, which was agreed by an amendment to the contract.)

Finally, the project implementation demonstrated the extreme importance of the presence at a long-term basis of experts at VATESI premises who could bring their expertise and ensure the effectiveness of interfaces between the Applicant, the Regulatory Authorities, their TSOs and international supporting experts. It was recommended that such type of support is established in future.

Further Project Results:

Further information on the project results could be sought from the beneficiary organisation.