Home
The project from A to Z
Progress of the Project
News 
Press Releases
Geological and Geotechnical Surveys are Conducted on the Construction Sites of the New NPP
Category: Press Releases
Published: 2010-02-24
Vilnius, 24 February. Intensive fieldwork of geological and geotechnical engineering survey is conducted on potential construction sites of the new Visaginas Nuclear Power Plant (NPP). Soil samples taken from different depths and on-site soil probing performed will enable establishing suitability of geological engineering conditions of sites for the construction of a nuclear energy object.
The fieldwork, which will last for four months, will cover the following works: boring two deep boreholes of up to 250 m, 108 engineering geological boreholes of up to 30 m, performing geotechnical soil probing of up to 30 m in 133 points, boring and exploring 8–16 hydrogeological boreholes, and conducting laboratory tests of more than 600 soil samples.
“We must ensure reliability of surveys with regard to the planning and construction of a nuclear object. Therefore, all surveys on construction sites will be conducted in compliance with the international safety requirements, and the soil samples will be tested in both Lithuanian and German laboratories,” says Rimvydas Štilinis, Head of the General Infrastructure Competence Centre of “Visagino atominė elektrinė”. According to him, a special mission of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has already been appointed, which will carry out independent assessment of suitability of the sites.
Geological and geotechnical engineering surveys are a sub-component of the project for assessment of potential construction sites of Visaginas NPP according to IAEA safety standards. Assessment of construction sites in terms of external events was accomplished last year. Assessment of construction sites in terms of geotechnical conditions and seismic factors has been continued, and it is due to be accomplished in July. The entire project “Assessment of construction sites according to the safety standards of IAEA” is to be completed by the end of 2010.