VATESI Issues Licence for ISFSF Operation for Safe Removal and Storage of Spent RBMK Type Nuclear Fuel from Ignalina NPP

This operating licence is so far, the most important achievement in the decommissioning of INPP marking the the first use of the new CONSTOR®RBMK1500/M2 casks and the ISFSF for safe removal and storage of 16000 RBMK type spent nuclear fuel assemblies from INPP Units 1 and 2.

Initially, INPP will perform a Commissioning ‘Hot Trial’ with 10 new CONSTOR®RBMK1500/M2 casks. During the Hot Trial each step from loading spent nuclear fuel into the casks to transportation of the casks to the new ISFSF will be tested to demonstrate that all design and safety requirements are fully met. Defueling will continue and the start of the “Industrial Operation” of the ISFSF in October 2017 is scheduled after VATESI’s approval of the Hot Trial closeout report and the Final Safety Analysis Report (FSAR).  Complete removal of spent nuclear fuel from INPP Units 1 and 2 is planned for achievement in end 2022.

Commencement of the Hot Trial of the ISFSF has a very significant meaning for the entire decommissioning of INPP.  “Today we are very proud to have achieved this important milestone in the world-wide first decommissioning of RBMK1500 reactors. This was achieved as a result of great effort and close cooperation of all project parties. We are particularly grateful to the European Commission and European Bank of Reconstruction and Development which, through their support, has enabled us to overcome project challenges and to achieve this excellent result”, - said INPP Director General Darius Janulevičius.

“This is a key milestone in the decommissioning of INPP. Mr. Janulevicius and his team brought the B1 project back on track and progress has been outstanding since 2013. We take great satisfaction from this outcome and from the experience of working with this Ignalina team, their contractors, Ministry of Energy and our EC colleagues”, - Vince Novak, EBRD Director for Nuclear Safety, congratulated INPP obtaining operating license.

Project B1 is financially supported by the Ignalina International Decommissioning Support Fund (IIDSF) managed by the EBRD. The IIDSF is funded by the European Community was well as by Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom, Norway and Switzerland.