Start of High Importance Stage in Project B1 – ISFSF Cold Trials

Aim of the cold trials is to demonstrate safe operation and interface of newly built Storage Facility with its systems and equipment and to assess the Facility’s compliance to the Design requirements and preparation for operation.

Darius Janulevicius, Director General of the SE Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) expressed his greetings to the INPP personnel and the Contractor for the job they did. He also welcomed the EBRD representatives and took an opportunity to thank for the Bank’s support and constructive relationship in the implementation of one of the main INPP decommissioning projects. D. Janulevicius emphasized that INPP highly appreciate the financial support from IIDSF that is an important contribution towards successful completion of INPP key decommissioning projects. He also hoped that success in achievement of this first important milestone will lead to the successful implementation of the whole project.

Jean Maurer, NUKEM Technologies Managing Director said that he is pleased to have an opportunity to thank all the parties for the huge input that has been made in order to achieve this important milestone.

Vince Novak, EBRD Director for Nuclear Safety, expressed his Institution´s satisfaction with the successful start of the cold trials and reiterated: “the EBRD’s and the Assembly of Contributors to the IIDSF expectation that the Contractor, INPP and the Lithuanian authorities will continue efficient cooperation in order to complete this key project in the shortest possible time”.

Completion of ISFSF cold trials is due on January 2015. After ISFSF cold trials completion, INPP and the Contractor will put all efforts for preparation and implementation of cold trials in Power Units 1 and 2. Successful completion of all cold trials’ stages will confirm the suitability of Design solution taken and preparedness of the project for the final stage – hot trials. Successful hot trials will lead to commissioning of the Facility.

The new ISFSF will ensure safe and long-term storage of spent fuel assemblies from INPP’s Power Units 1 and 2 in dry storage cask of the CONSTOR RBMK®1500/M2 type.

Project B1 is funded by the International Ignalina Decommissioning Support Fund (IIDSF), administrated by the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development. Donors Assembly managing IIDSF consists of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the European Commission.