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March 20, 2019. State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) concluded that nuclear facilities in Lithuania operated safely during 2018. The evaluated inspection results showed the accepted safety level of nuclear and radiation safety, physical security in facilities and licensees made adequate provisions to ensure safety and security of public and environment while ensuring that Lithuania continued to meet its international obligations on the peaceful use of nuclear materials.

There were no serious process failures in nuclear facilities operation in 2018. According to VATESI requirements for information about unusual events in 2018, 2 unusual events were reported by license holder State Enterprise Ignalina NPP (4 in 2017) that were rated below the scale (0 level) on the International Nuclear Events Scale (INES). All reported unusual events had no impact on safety, the dose limits of operating personnel were not exceeded and there were no identified releases of radioactive material into the environment.

In 2018, VATESI conducted 60 inspections (49 in 2017). More inspections were planned for entities with licences to work with the sources of ionising radiation in the nuclear energy area and nuclear material holders because of its inspection period once in three and five years.

During 47 inspections at Ignalina NPP, VATESI inspectors predominantly focused on safety requirements related with maintenance, fire safety and ageing management of structures, systems and components important to safety of shut-downed units. VATESI also inspected how safety requirements were met when performing works under projects of dismantling and decontamination, managing radioactive waste, ensuring physical security and radiation protection of the nuclear facilities and nuclear materials, ensuring emergency preparedness, how employees of Ignalina NPP were trained and how their sufficient qualifications were ensured. Also Ignalina NPP inspected for the accounting systems and control of nuclear material and safe use and storage equipment with sources of ionising radiation.

In 2018, enforcement measures identified regarding 13 violations (29 in 2017). Mainly violations were made regarding weak soil removal from the site where radioactive waste disposal facility is planned to construct, regarding deficiencies in instructions for overhead lifting equipment used for spent fuel management and radioactive waste management activities. All entities enforced under procedures set forth by law.

State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) is the state regulatory and supervisory authority in the nuclear safety field in Lithuania.