Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant Safety Issues

The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) consists of two units, commissioned in 1983 and 1987. Unit 1 of Ignalina NPP was shutdown for decommissioning at the end of 2004 and Unit 2 is to be operated until the end of 2009. Both units are equipped with channel-type graphite-moderated boiling water reactors RBMK-1500. The safety issues related with fulfilment of two fundamental safety functions – control of the reactivity and confinement of radioactive materials are addressed in this paper. The main systems, performing these safety functions at NPP-s, are Reactor Shutdown and Containment systems. The containment function at the Ignalina NPP is performed by the Accident localisation system. The performance and safety justification of Ignalina NPP additional and diverse shutdown systems, as well as of Accident localisation system, is discussed in this paper. The performed safety evaluations demonstrate that Ignalina NPP has adequate safety systems for reactor shutdown and confinement of radioactive materials.