Lithuania. Annex 1.15 [National experiences on implementing safety improvements at existing nuclear power plants]

Lithuania has only one nuclear facility, which is no longer operational. The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant consisted of two Chernobyl NPP-type 1,500 megawatt RBMK reactors. Unit 1 at Ignalina came online in December 1983 and Unit 2 came online in August 1987. As a condition of Lithuania's European Union accession agreement, Unit 1 was shut down on 31 December 2004 and Unit 2 on 31 December 2009. Regulatory framework: The fundamental safety objectives are set up in the provisions of the Law on Nuclear Safety and are intended to ensure the highest level of nuclear safety as possible to achieve and the lowest risk to people, their property and environment as regards the activities of both nuclear installations and any other activity related to the use of nuclear and (or) nuclear fuel cycle materials. The fundamental safety objectives are further implemented by, e.g., prescribing, that particular safety related decisions must be made in consideration of "risk to people, their property and the environment". The fundamental safety objectives are in compliance with the fundamental safety principles established in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SF-1, Fundamental Safety Principles. In addition, the Law on Nuclear Safety implements the provisions of Nuclear Safety Directive of European Union, concerning practical elimination accidents leading to large or early releases. The Republic of Lithuania is a part of all the most important international treaties. The ratified international treaties as well as internationally recognised IAEA safety standards are taken into consideration while preparing the drafts of the Laws and other appropriate legal acts.