Lithuania to dismantle active zones of Ignalina nuclear plant reactors for first time worldwide
Lithuania is preparing to dismantle the active zones of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant reactors, which are of the Chernobyl type, marking a world-first operation.
Lithuanian public broadcaster LRT reports that the country is gearing up for an unprecedented project: dismantling the active zones of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) reactors. These reactors are of the same type as those at the Chernobyl NPP, the site of one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. The active zone is the core of the reactor where the nuclear chain reaction takes place and contains the highest level of radioactivity. Dismantling it is a technically complex and hazardous operation. To date, no country has ever performed such a dismantling of a Chernobyl-type reactor's active zone. Lithuania will be the first to attempt this. The exact start date for the dismantling work has not been announced, but preparation steps are already underway. LRT notes that this is a crucial step towards the complete decommissioning of the Ignalina NPP and the safe management of nuclear waste.
