News

On 20-31 March 2023, VATESI hosted Agnese Aizpuriete, Head of the Licensing and Registry Division of the Latvian Radiation Safety Centre, during her scientific visit.

The main objective of the visit was to familiarise with the regulatory and supervisory framework for safety of radioactive waste management in Lithuania.

The representative of Latvia was interested in the experience of radioactive waste management and decommissioning regulation in Lithuania, the safety oversight of radioactive waste management, radiation protection aspects during the safety justification documentation review of decommissioning and radioactive waste management, the safety oversight of the shipment of radioactive waste, and how VATESI applies graded approach during the safety assessment.

Also, Ms Azpurete visited the Radiation Protection Centre of Lithuania and Maišiagala Radioactive Waste Storage Facility.

Latvia is preparing to start dismantling the Salaspils Research Reactor and plans to expand the radioactive waste management facility at Baldone by building a new basement and another repository for long-term storage of radioactive waste.

The experience of VATESI in the regulation and supervision of radioactive waste management safety is valuable for the neighbouring country, as Lithuania is in the process of decommissioning a similar type of radioactive waste storage facility in Maišiagala, licensing of new radioactive waste management facilities and the decommissioning of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant are underway. VATESI provides safety oversight for all these activities.