Sweco Awarded Contract to Assess Environmental Risks for Ignalina’s Deep Geological Repository

Sweco Awarded Contract to Assess Environmental Risks for Ignalina’s Deep Geological Repository

(IN BRIEF) The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania has contracted Sweco for €448,000 to evaluate environmental risks for a proposed deep geological repository intended for the final disposal of long-lived radioactive waste. As a vital part of Ignalina’s decommissioning process—which began following its 2009 closure under an EU agreement—Sweco will assess 77 potential repository sites across Lithuania, examining factors such as soil integrity, groundwater quality, air conditions, and biodiversity. Liudas Zalunskis, Managing Director at Sweco in Lithuania, emphasized the project’s importance for protecting the environment and ensuring safe waste storage for future generations by leveraging both local expertise and international experience from previous nuclear projects in Sweden, Belgium, and Finland.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 5-Mar-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant in Lithuania has taken a significant step toward ensuring safe long-term waste management by awarding Sweco a €448,000 contract to assess the environmental risks associated with a proposed deep geological repository. This repository is planned for the final disposal of long-lived radioactive waste and represents a critical component of Ignalina’s extensive decommissioning process, which is expected to unfold over several decades.

Originally closed in 2009 as part of an EU agreement, the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant is now in the process of dismantling its reactors, managing radioactive waste, and restoring the site for future use. In this context, the role of the repository is pivotal to ensure that radioactive waste is safely isolated from the environment for thousands of years. Sweco’s task involves a comprehensive evaluation of environmental impacts across 77 candidate sites located throughout Lithuania. Their assessment will focus on a range of factors including soil integrity, the condition of geological layers, groundwater quality, air pollution, and the potential effects on local biodiversity.

Sweco’s extensive international experience in nuclear projects—gained from work in countries such as Sweden, Belgium, and Finland—will be instrumental in this effort. Liudas Zalunskis, Managing Director for Sweco in Lithuania, highlighted the importance of this work, stating, “This project is not only critical for the current residents of Lithuania, but also for safeguarding the environment and ensuring the safety of future generations. By combining our local expertise with our proven international experience, we aim to identify the optimal solution for the final storage of nuclear waste.”

The evaluation is a vital part of Ignalina’s broader decommissioning strategy, which includes dismantling reactors and restoring the facility, ultimately aiming to achieve complete decommissioning by 2040 and establishing a deep geological repository by 2080. Sweco’s role, however, is specifically focused on environmental and waste management aspects, with no involvement in the core or hot zones of the reactor systems.

This new contract underscores the commitment of both the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and the European Space Agency’s long-term vision for safe, sustainable decommissioning. It also reflects Sweco’s proven capabilities in handling complex environmental assessments within the nuclear sector. As Lithuania continues its journey toward a cleaner and safer post-nuclear era, this project stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts required to address the challenges of nuclear waste management and environmental protection.

About the client, Ignalina nuclear power plant
The mission of the enterprise is safe and timely implementation of the decommissioning of the nuclear power plant, which operated two RBMK-type reactors, through sustainable management of the legacy of nuclear activities. The final completion of the operation and dismantling of the power plant is planned by 2040, the commitment is to build and operate a deep geological repository by 2080. Read more.

About Sweco’s nuclear experience
Sweco advises and is an expert in all areas of the energy transition, encompassing the production, transmission and storage of various energy types. A balanced mix of fossil-free energy types is essential for effectively addressing the challenges of the green transition, with nuclear power serving as one potential component of this mix. Sweco provides technical advisory services related to permitting procedures, project planning, construction, decommissioning and waste management.

Media Contact:

Anna Elisabeth Olsson
Head of Press and Public Affairs
+46705573326
anna.e.olsson@sweco.se

SOURCE: Sweco AB