The dismantling of the reactor channels of unit 1 at Lithuania’s Ignalina NPP (INPP) has been completed and nuclear regulator VATESI (Valstybinė Atominės Energetikos Saugos Inspekcija) has now issued a permit to INPP for dismantling and decontamination works on the upper and lower zone equipment of the reactor channels of unit 2.
INPP comprised two water-cooled graphite-moderated channel-type RBMK-1500 reactors. Unit 1 came online in 1983 and unit 2 in 1987. Originally, unit 2 was scheduled for launch in 1986, but this was postponed following the Chernobyl accident, after which both units were de-rated to 1360 MWe. Lithuania agreed to close the plant as part of its accession agreement to the European Union (EU), which argued that lack of containment made the units unsafe. Ignalina 1 closed in 2004 and Ignalina 2 – which accounted for 25% of Lithuania’s electricity generating capacity and supplied about 70% of Lithuania’s electrical demand – closed in 2009. The EU is largely funding its decommissioning.
According to VATESI, the steam-water discharge piping at the top of the reactor and the water supply piping at the bottom of the reactor, as well as other related systems and their components, will be dismantled, and initial treatment of radioactive waste will be carried out. The project also includes the dismantling of the fuel channels and the reactor control and safety channels located within the reactor.
Dismantling work is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026. Until then, the company will carry out preparatory work: install engineering systems, test remote control equipment, and upgrade and adapt the radioactive waste management infrastructure to handle the waste generated during this project. The company plans to use also a remotely controlled equipment for dismantling and radioactive waste management.
VATESI specialists assessed the documents submitted by INPP to substantiate the safety of decommissioning activities and confirmed that they comply with the safety requirements for such activities. This is the fourth permit issued by VATESI for the implementation of dismantling and decommissioning projects since the issuance of the decommissioning licence in October 2024.
Altra is the new operational brand name for state owned INPP, which is responsible for decommissioning the plant. While the legal name remains State Enterprise Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, the organisation adopted the Altra brand in late 2025 to reflect its shift from electricity generation to a mission focused on nuclear transformation and environmental stewardship.
The company functions as the “architects of Lithuania’s nuclear transformation”, with activities planned to 2100. These include:
- Decommissioning: Safely dismantling the unique RBMK-1500 reactors at the Ignalina site. As of early 2026, approximately 45.7% of the plant’s equipment (79,000 tonnes) has already been dismantled.
- Waste Management: Managing radioactive waste, including the construction of near-surface repositories and the long-term planning for a deep geological repository for used nuclear fuel.
- Future Energy Exploration: Evaluating next-generation technologies, such as small modular reactors (SMRs), to support Lithuania’s long-term energy security.
Lithuania has opted for an immediate dismantling strategy without a long waiting period, exploiting available competencies and technologies. The dismantling of peripheral systems and equipment began in 2010. The final dismantling of the reactors with the dismantling of the most complex reactor cores is planned to take place by 2043, and all decommissioning work should be completed by 2050, with final handling of reactor buildings.
By the end of 2026, Altra plans to carry out dismantling and decontamination work on the steam drum-separators of both units. Each steam drum-separator comprises a 30-metre-long three-metre-diameter metal cylinder. There are eight such facilities with a total weight of more than 6,000 tonnes.
Altra emphasised the efficient handling of materials. After deactivation, about 78% of dismantled equipment and 94% of reinforced concrete is returned to the secondary raw material market, reducing the amount of radioactive waste. About 180,000 tonnes of equipment are planned to be dismantled throughout the decommissioning period.
For the proper and final management of radioactive waste, four waste facilities are envisaged: a short-lived very low-level waste facility has already been built and will be refilled by 2027. It is planned to obtain permission to convert the storage of bituminous radioactive waste into a waste plan by 2028. There are plans to complete the construction of a new short-lived low-and medium-radioactive waste disposal facility, currently under construction by 2070. Construction of a deep waste facility for the storage of used nuclear fuel and other long-lived radioactive waste is also planned.
Ground-based waste plants are and will be built on the INPP site in Visaginas municipality, and the site for the deep waste plant in Lithuania is expected to be approved by 2049 for construction and operation until 2080. During this period, Altra aims to establish itself as an advanced next-generation nuclear energy enterprise.
“Nobody in the world has ever dismantled a power plant of this size and radiation contamination,” said Altra CEO Linas Baužys. “The transition to the second unit is a significant step forward in implementing the mega-project for decommissioning the Ignalina nuclear power plant. We have dismantled two-thirds of the first reactor with our own forces – the most complex and radiation-hazardous dismantling of the reactor cores remains, for which we will use external contractors. Our experience with the first unit allows us to confidently move on to the dismantling stages of the second unit. We are carrying out some of the work using remote and robotic technologies to ensure the highest safety standards.”
He added: “When we talk about a sustainable energy future, we are increasingly using the word energosauga. It represents the most important idea: to responsibly manage energy resources and the consequences of their use so that solutions are safe, sustainable and focused on future generations. We do not want to leave radioactive waste to future generations, so we are looking for the most effective and advanced solutions in the world to deal with radioactive waste accumulated over the life of a nuclear power plant.”
