IAEA experts praise Lithuania’s nuclear safety system after review mission

Lithuania has been praised for its “robust and mature” nuclear and radiation safety system following an international review led by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which highlighted continued efforts to strengthen oversight and public communication.

An Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) team of international experts concluded a 12-day mission assessing the country’s regulatory framework, which is managed by the State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) and the Radiation Protection Centre (RSC) under the Ministry of Health.

The review, based on IAEA safety standards and international best practice, is designed to help countries improve regulatory effectiveness while reaffirming national responsibility for nuclear and radiation safety.

Lithuania is currently decommissioning its Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, which previously operated two reactor units. The site also hosts facilities for spent fuel management and radioactive waste storage and disposal. Beyond the nuclear sector, radiation sources are widely used across Lithuania in medicine, research and industry.

The country has previously hosted two IRRS missions, in 2016 and a follow-up review in 2020, which assessed progress in implementing earlier recommendations.

“The IRRS mission provides valuable insights that will help us further improve our national nuclear and radiation safety infrastructure,” said Michail Demčenko, Head of VATESI.

The 12-member expert team included specialists from Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Romania, Singapore and Sweden, alongside two IAEA staff members.

During the mission, the team examined legislation, regulations and operational procedures, and conducted interviews with officials from both VATESI and the RSC. They also carried out site visits, including inspections at the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, the radiology department of a private clinic (UAB InMedica), and an industrial facility operated by UAB Polimaster Europe.

Team leader Mika Markkanen, Principal Advisor at Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), said Lithuania’s regulatory system was “robust and mature”, adding that inspectors were impressed by the commitment of both agencies to continuous improvement.

The report also highlighted several good practices. These included a government-led programme to periodically assess supervisory authorities such as VATESI and RSC, ensuring effective and risk-based oversight across the country. The system also evaluates regulatory efficiency, administrative burden reduction and the use of modern supervisory tools.

Another positive development noted by the team was the RSC’s efforts to improve public access to information, including national awareness campaigns and expanded use of digital platforms.

While the IRRS team did not identify any significant weaknesses, it said there were areas where Lithuania could further align its system with IAEA Safety Standards. It added that implementing its recommendations—particularly those aimed at strengthening coordination and communication between VATESI and RSC—would further enhance the effectiveness of the regulatory framework.