In 2020, 4212 tons of equipment and 3579 tons of concrete waste were dismantled at the Ignalina nuclear power plant (INPP) in Lithuania, and more than 7400 tons of radioactive waste were processed, INPP.

Photo credit: INPPSince decommissioning began in 2010, 63,957t of equipment and concrete waste have been dismantled. By the end of decommissioning in 2038, a further 108,000t of equipment will need to be dismantled.

In 2020, extensive dismantling work was carried out in the turbine hall of the second unit, where 97% of the equipment was dismantled. Most of the equipment, after checking for contamination with radionuclides, is sold at auctions as scrap metal, the rest is temporarily stored until it can be sent for permanent storage in repositories.

Dismantling and decontamination works are performed by the plant personnel, and all work is being carried out in accordance with the approved schedule. The work is financed by the International Fund for Decommissioning Ignalina NPP and the Ignalina Programme.

INPP also demolished a number of unused structures in 2020. Eleven structures were demolished on the site, three of which were classified as special structures, seven as non-special and one as simple. INPP said it plans to demolish 11 more unused structures in 2021.


PPhoto: Some 63,957t of equipment and concrete has been dismantled at the Ignalina nuclear plant (credit: INPP)