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Problems at Ignalina

Nuclear Monitor Issue: 
#458
20/09/1996
Article

(September 20, 1996) The first unit of the Lithuanian Ignalina nuclear power plant was stopped again on September 11 after a short time of operation. The official reason: leakage of oil in the first unit. Electricity for Lithuania is supplied by the Lithuanian State Power Plant in Elektrenai, using the heavy oil fuel (mazut).

(458.4549) WISE-Amsterdam - The last time Unit One of the Ignalina nuclear reactor was stopped was on August 27, 1996, because of a leakage in its cooling system. Before that, Ignalina Unit One was stopped on August 7 for the same reason. There are too many stops in a short time in the first unit of Ignalina.The second unit of Ignalina is still not in operation due to planned maintenance until October 15, 1996.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) finances the Safety Assessment study of the Ignalina nuclear power station, which should be finished in 1997. With the the results of this study in mind, Lithuanian authorities should make a final decision about a timetable for the closure of Ignalina. But the opinion among Lithuanian energy officials that Ignalina NPP should stay in operation as long as possible, is very popular, because, they claim, it produces what is supposed to be the cheapest electricity compared to the conventional power plants. But independent experts are very critical of that statement.

The Lithuanian Green Movement claims that now the full costs of the nuclear electricity produced in Ignalina NPP are under consideration. Operation of the Ignalina nuclear power plant as the major producer of electricity for Lithuania (70%-80%) have caused many environmental, economic, energy, social and political problems. However, the official establishment does not want to recognize the importance of these problems.

Management of spent fuel, collecting the funds for the decommissioning of the plant and, of course, the operational safety level are still among the biggest problems of Ignalina.

Source: E-mail message, 13 September 1996
Contact: Linas Vainius, Lithuanian Green Movement.
Central post P.O. Box 156, LT-3000 Kaunas Lithuania.
E-mail: atgaja@kaunas.omnitel.net
Fax: +3 70 7 209274
Tel: +3 70 7 207250