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Vastavalt nimekirjale 16.01.2023 nr 6-3/22/5467-2 Esialgne teave Leedu radioaktiivsete jäätmete ja kasutatud tuumkütuse lõppladustuspaiga projekti kohta Leedu on varakult jaganud naaberriikidele esialgset teavet sesoses projektiga ehitada sügav geoloogiline radioaktiivsete jäätmete ja kasutatud tuumkütuse lõppladustuspaik, kuhu kavandatakse ladustada Ignalina tuumaelektrijaama töötamise (1983–2009) ja dekomisjoneerimise (alates 2010) käigus tekkinud kasutatud tuumkütus ning radioaktiivsed jäätmed. Praegu hoitakse nii kasutatud tuumkütust kui ka radioaktiivseid jäätmeid spetsiaalsetes konteinerites vastavates hoidlates, kuid tegemist on ajutise lahendusega ning seetõttu on tehtud algust esmaste ettevalmistavate tegevustega lõppladustuspaiga rajamiseks. Praeguse seisuga on siiski tegemist projekti väga varajase etapiga: sügava geoloogilise lõppladustuspaiga asukoha valikule ja ehitamisele eelnevalt tuleb teostada nii keskkonnamõju strateegiline hindamine kui keskkonnamõju hindamine. Edastame infoks Leedu saadetud infodokumendi, mis sisaldab esialgset teavet kõnealuse projekti kohta. Lugupidamisega (allkirjastatud digitaalselt) Kaupo Heinma Asekantsler Lisa: infodokument Rainer Persidski, 626 2973 [email protected] Paldiski mnt 96/ Tallinn 13522/ 626 2802/ [email protected]/ www.envir.ee/ Registrikood 70001231  INITIAL INFORMATION REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF A DEEP GEOLOGICAL REPOSITORY FOR RADIOACTIVE WASTE IN LITHUANIA Present situation During the operation of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) in Lithuania from 1983 to 2009 and the decommissioning of the INPP since 2010, large quantities of spent nuclear fuel (SNF) and radioactive waste (RW) have been generated. According to data as of 2022, the estimated quantities of SNF and other long-lived radioactive waste to be disposed of into a deep geological repository is 2,416 tHM (tonnes of heavy metals) of SNF and approximately 10,000 tonnes of other long-lived radioactive waste. This waste includes metal reactor structures, parts of fuel assemblies, control rods and other long-lived radioactive waste. The estimated quantities of radioactive waste are approximate since the quantity of waste that will be generated during the dismantling of the INPP buildings and facilities can only be preliminarily predicted and cannot be precisely calculated. Spent nuclear fuel loaded into special containers has already been transferred for storing to the SNF storage facilities. Other radioactive waste retrieved from operational waste storage facilities or generated during the dismantling work is placed into waste storage containers, which are transferred and stored in appropriate storage facilities. The storing of long-lived radioactive waste and SNF in storage facilities is only a temporary solution. At the end of the safe design lifetime of the containers and storage facilities for long-lived radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel (2050 and 2067, respectively), the arrangements for the final disposal of this radioactive waste must be prepared. Plans for the future Strategic documents of the Republic of Lithuania provide that at the end of the interim storage period for long-lived radioactive waste, the long-lived radioactive waste will have to be disposed of into the deep geological repository for radioactive waste (hereinafter referred to as the DGR). Following international practice and the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is currently the only safe and sustainable method recognized worldwide for the management of long-lived radioactive waste. In compliance with the Law on Radioactive Waste Management of the Republic of Lithuania, radioactive waste generated in the Republic of Lithuania must be disposed of into the DGR located on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. Why the deep geological repository? The long-lived radioactive waste disposal into the DGR allows for the isolation of long-lived radioactive waste from humans and the biosphere for a period from 10,000 to 100,000 years, as 1 well as to prevent the penetration of radionuclides into the environment and their negative impact on both the environment and the health of the population. Spent nuclear fuel without treatment, high-level spent nuclear fuel treatment waste and other long-lived radioactive waste loaded to special containers will be disposed of into the DGR. What is the deep geological repository? How is it installed? The DGR is an underground structure where radioactive waste placed in special containers and stored into shafts (tunnels). After being filled with containers, these shafts are sealed with a special material (usually bentonite). There are also installed shafts for scientific research and monitoring of the radiation background. Administrative offices, facilities for preparing radioactive waste containers for transfer to the DGR, an information centre, and other facilities are located on the ground surface. This typically covers an area of approximately several dozen hectares, and the remaining area (above the DGR) can be safely used for its intended purpose (agriculture, etc.). The underground area required for the construction of the DGR is calculated for the quantity of radioactive waste to be placed into the DGR. All the above-mentioned aspects will be foreseen during the development of the DGR project, creation of the concept, regarding the geological structure of the selected area, local conditions, influence on socio-economic indicators of the area and safety requirements. Since 2019, the INPP has started to implement a long-term project for the construction of the DGR-type disposal facility on the territory of the Republic of Lithuania. Project stages (plan): • Research before the approval of the DGR site (2020–2047). The research aims to select the most suitable site for the DGR construction. At the sites that best meet the DGR site suitability criteria, geophysical surveys are arranged as part of the research. Deep boreholes for surveying are installed for this purpose, and geological, geophysical, hydrogeological, and other surveys conducted. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will also be carried out. These surveys and expert assessments are essential to determine the geological and hydrological features of potentially suitable sites and the possible social, economic, and environmental impacts of the DGR on the public and local communities. Only if it is determined that the construction of the DGR will not have the negative impact on the environment in all the above-mentioned aspects, the site for the DGR will be approved. 2 • Design of the DGR (2048–2057). Design commences only after approval of the DGR site. The design is based on the results of the geological surveys carried out on the DGR site, considering the repository concept and the results of the safety analysis. • Construction of the DGR (2058–2067) is carried out following the concept and safety issues specified in the project. • Operation of the DGR (2068–2074) means that spent nuclear fuel and other long- lived radioactive waste from temporary storage facilities of the INPP are transported to the built repository and placed into special shafts. • Final closure of the DGR (2075–2079) is carried out after all spent fuel and other long-lived radioactive waste have been placed into the DGR. During the closure, shafts with waste containers are filled with bentonite or other sealing materials. Progress of the DGR construction project: • Socio-economic assessment (2020–2021). A socio-economic assessment of potential sites suitable for the construction of the deep geological repository (on the entire territory of the Republic of Lithuania) is performed (according to the contract with IDOM Consulting, Engineering, Architecture, S.A.U (Spain)); areas excluded that might have the significant negative impact on the environment and the communities in terms of social and economic aspects. • Determination of geological criteria (2021–2022). Potential geological structures have been determined (according to the cooperation agreement with the Lithuanian Geological Survey under the Ministry of the Environment). Based on the findings of the performed assessment, representative areas selected for more detailed research are the subject of geophysical surveys. • Determination of general safety criteria (2022–2023) – the contract between INPP and Posiva Solutions Oy (Finland) was signed in January 2022. Following the requirements and recommendations of the normative documents, the best worldwide practice, considering the specifics of the DGR construction in Lithuania, a general safety assessment of the geological formations potentially suitable for the DGR construction in Lithuania will be carried out and based on the results, general safety criteria for the DGR construction in Lithuania will be defined, which will be followed during the further stages of the DGR construction. • Geophysical (seismic) surveys (2022–2023). The contract with UAB Geobaltic as the geophysical surveys’ operator was signed in September 2022. Geophysical (seismic) surveys for the construction of the DGR on the areas with different potential geological 3  formations (lower Cambrian Baltic series clay, crystalline basement, and lower Triassic clay) were started in the second half of 2022: Kazlų Rūda municipality, Alytus district municipality, Švenčionys district municipality, Varėna district municipality. Geophysical (seismic) surveys at representative sites will detail the Earth’s subsurface structure and subsidence conditions of these geological formations at the sites selected for geophysical (seismic) surveys. • Publicity of the DGR project (2020–2030) is performed to ensure full transparency and public awareness of the DGR project, and relevant information about the DGR project is provided to the public and interested parties throughout the project implementation. Along with the first practical research, a large-scale communication campaign is foreseen for the period 2022–2025, during which relevant information related to the implementation of the DGR project will be publicized in the media. Public acceptance is very important to this project, and the aim of publicizing the DGR project is to provide the public and interested parties with timely, evidence-based information on the DGR project. On 1 September 2022, the Procurement of communication services for the DGR construction project (project publicity) was announced. 4