Strategy, main stages and progress of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant decommissioning

Abstract

Unit 1 and Unit 2 reactors of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant were shutdown in December 31, 2004 and December 31, 2009, respectively. Preliminary and Final Decommissioning Plans for the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Units 1 and 2 were prepared, the latter of which was approved by Ministry of Economy in 2005. The main points of Final Decommissioning Plan and the main Decommissioning Projects for the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant are summarized in this paper. Particular attention is drawn to the spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management projects. Preliminary analysis showed that the main mass of equipment to be dismantled is concentrated in reactor buildings (∼39%) and turbine halls (∼37%) and consists from metals of different types (∼83%). From radiological point of view, a major part (∼61%) of contaminated equipment can be classified as very low level radioactive waste.