Ignalina residents call for independent review of nuclear waste repository plans
Saturday 27th June 2026 on 14:15 in
Lithuania
The Lithuanian Green Party is collecting signatures for a petition urging authorities to ensure transparency and independent expert evaluation in the selection process for a deep geological repository for spent nuclear fuel in Ignalina district, as reported by ELTA.
The petition, addressed to the Seimas (parliament) and the government, demands public comparison of all potential repository sites, independent expert assessment, early involvement of local communities, and evaluation of long-term regional impact.
Vaidotas Židanavičius, head of the Ignalina branch of the Green Party, stated the initiative aims to involve residents from the start of the practical research phase. “We are not yet discussing the final decision on repository construction, but this is precisely why we must act now. The biggest mistake would be to wait until the research is done, alternatives are narrowed down, and communities are left only to react to ready-made decisions,” he said.
Židanavičius acknowledged Ignalina’s historical role in Lithuania’s energy sector but emphasized the need to consider the region’s future vision, noting that Ignalina is now a tourism destination. “For decades, our region has been associated with nuclear energy, but our future cannot be defined solely by past decisions,” he said.
The petition also calls on project implementers to publicly present their research, organize open meetings with residents, and ensure the participation of independent experts.
According to ELTA, the site for the deep repository, intended to store fuel from the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, must be selected by 2047 after evaluating long-term operational safety, technical suitability, social, economic, political, and environmental criteria. Construction is planned by 2067, with operation until 2074 and closure by 2079.
The first unit of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant was shut down in late December 2004, and the second in December 2009. Dismantling work is currently underway, with full decommissioning planned by 2038. Lithuania committed to closing the plant upon joining the European Union and NATO.