Lithuania is preparing to implement a project that has not been carried out in the world so far – it is planned to dismantle the active zones of RBMK-type nuclear reactors in the former Ignalina nuclear power plant. They are the same type of reactors that were used at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine, writes “lrt.lt”.
The Ignalina nuclear power plant was closed as one of the conditions for Lithuania’s accession to the European Union. The first reactor stopped working in 2004, and the second – in 2009. Since then, a complicated and lengthy process of dismantling the station has been going on.
Now the project has reached one of the most difficult stages – experts say that Lithuania will become the first country in the world to completely dismantle RBMK-type reactors.
These reactors were once considered one of the most powerful in the world, but after 1986 Chernobyl disasters their design flaws came to international attention.
The implementers of the project emphasize that the works are technically extremely difficult, because the dismantling of RBMK reactors on a similar scale has not taken place in the world. The experience gained could also be useful in the future for other countries that still operate or will have to shut down reactors of this type in the future.
It is planned that the dismantling program of the Ignalina nuclear power plant will continue for several more years, but the project is already being called one of the most complex nuclear facility dismantling works in Europe.
