ASPECTS OF THE CONTINUED OPERATION OF THE IGNALINA NUCLEAR POWER PLANT

摘要

The Ignalina nuclear power plant (INPP) with two units of 1500 MW each, which are the largest nuclear power units in the world, is the main electricity supplier in independent Lithuania. Lithuania joined the nuclear power society when the nuclear property of the former Soviet Union was divided among countries. The development of the nucler power sector in Lithuania is rather unique because there were no preliminary measures for development of a nuclear power programme. For a long time there was an invisible 'wall' between the INPP and the Lithuanian society. Taking into account the role of the INPP in the restoration of the country's economy, it is important to keep the nuclear units in operation. This is the main task of the INPP in the current situation. Some aspects which determine continued operation of the INPP are: cost-benefit considerations, safety issues, technical limitations, technical support of safe and reliable operation and public acceptance. A least-cost assessment of the energy sector prospects carried out by the Lithuanian Energy Institute indicated the economic expediency of keeping the INPP in operation as long as possible. This possibility depends on the successful solution of safety relevant problems at the INPP as well as on the efficiency of the governmental regulatory system in ensuring safe and reliable operation of nuclear units. In the framework of the Ignalina Nuclear Safety Account Project, a safety assessment has been undertaken to provide the national regulatory authority with a basis for decision making on the relicensing of Unit 1 in the year 1998. The licensing system in the nuclear power area is under development in the framework of the assistance programme of the European Commission. In principle, there are no obstacles to coping with technical safety deficiencies. Management restructuring in order to ensure compliance with the requirements regarding operational organization is becoming a key issue. The establishment of a net of technical support organizations in Lithuania is another precondition of keeping the INPP in operation. The closure of the gap between the fuel channel and the graphite stack is the critical technical factor determining the lifetime of INPP units, at least of Unit 1. The results of investigation of this problem show that closure of this gap will probably occur between 1999 and 2002 in Unit 1, while it may be possible to avoid gap closure for Unit 2. The public acceptance of nuclear power in Lithuania is also an important factor in keeping the INPP in operation. An opinion poll carried out in 1995 showed that the majority of respondents support continued operation of the INPP up to the middle of the next century.