What does the State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) say about business perspectives of the construction of the new Visaginas NPP

Interview with Mr. Gytis Maksimovas, Head of the VATESI

What is the role of the VATESI while implementing the project of the new Visaginas nuclear power plant in Lithuania?

Jurisdiction over the Ignalina nuclear power plant was transferred to Lithuania in 1991. Then Minister of Energy, Professor Leonas Ašmantas, being a specialist in nuclear energy, recognized that at the takeover of the nuclear object Lithuania had to establish an institution for the supervision of nuclear energy safety. The State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate (VATESI) was thus established in autumn, 1991. Then, only a few people worked for the VATESI. The main task was to start regulatory activities, strengthen the VATESI by employing skilled specialists, create a legal framework for national nuclear safety, ensure the supervision of Ignalina NPP and ensure the implementation of its safety improvement measures. The funds for these works were allocated by the G7 and by other countries, while great support was provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency (TATENA). 33 million EU was assigned for the improvement of safety (for the preparation of the safety analysis, for licensing of Unit 1 and for other works). During 17 years of performance, the VATESI has expanded, achieved the required competence, and become a professional organisation, employing 52 employees. Currently, the VATESI is preparing for the supervision of the implementation of the new nuclear power plant project. During the upcoming two or three years we are planning to employ and train up to 40 new employees. These resources are needed for the VATESI to prepare for the licensing of the new nuclear power plant and for the supervision of the implementation of the project.

Will there be a sufficient number of required specialists in Lithuania or will you have to invite staff from elsewhere?

G. Maksimovas: I believe that the majority of the personnel shall be specialists trained in Lithuania. Our Polish neighbours are also ready for cooperation. We are going to collaborate with the Latvians and Estonians, though the responsibility for the state supervision of nuclear safety and the regulatory work shall lie only on the shoulders of our specialists. Following the requirements of the Convention on Nuclear Safety and of other conventions and treaties regulating nuclear safety, the state shall be responsible for the supervision and the regulation of nuclear safety of the objects operating within its territory. Experts in certain areas, I think, shall be called from other countries, as it would be difficult to train them in Lithuania.

A large number of specialists will be needed during the stage of licensing. Upon completion of the licensing work of the new NPP, the workload shall decrease and some of the specialists will not be required. A certain infrastructure is essential for the construction of the new power plant: an operating organisation, institutions for supervision and regulation of nuclear safety and TSO’s, providing expert services. It is worth noting that Lithuanian organisations are among such organisations. For example, the FIMA company provides services for nuclear objects, operating in Lithuania and abroad. There are different institutes working in the area of nuclear energy in Lithuania, namely, the Lithuanian Energy Institute, the KTU, the VGTU, the VDU, the Institute of Physics, etc. So far, this sector of nuclear energy services has not been very attractive for private capital companies. However, the situation now is going to face radical changes. More Lithuanian companies shall become involved in the business for services necessary for the nuclear energy industry.

What will be the scope of such services?

G. Maksimovas: It should not be thought that during the construction and later on, while operating the nuclear power plant, that only specialists of nuclear physics will be in demand. Engineers-technologists, specialists in construction, chemical engineering, ergonomics, and quality control and other areas will be needed. The authority, executing supervision and regulation, does not have to train specialists from all areas. As world practice shows, a part of expert services is provided by its own means and other services are outsourced.

What can we learn from the experience of other countries in order to avoid repeating expensive mistakes in the past?

G. Maksimovas: It has to be taken into consideration that in many countries, power plants were not constructed very long ago. For instance, in the USA, they haven’t been constructed for more than 30 years. In the European Union, except France, nuclear power plants haven’t been constructed for many years also. One by one, countries declared a moratorium on the construction of new NPPs. Nuclear power plants were closed or intentions were made on closing the ones still operating. Eventually, some companies working in the business of nuclear energy gave up this activity. When, after such a long break, everything is aimed to be renewed, many problems arise. Lost skills and productive capacity, the competence to handle huge infrastructure projects must be regained. Though Finland thoroughly prepared for the construction of a nuclear power plant, it did not escape certain problems. Therefore, the progress of the project fell behind schedule.

One of the problems was the management of such a big project. The project contractors had to solve not only the technical problems but also project management issues. It is worth noting that each country has a different regulatory practice. We found out what are the main risk factors; for example, not fully prepared project documentation. Specifications will be drawn over the course of the project. Special attention needs to be paid to the project implementing companies and to the skills, qualification and available resources of the principal contractor. Assessment on the readiness to implement the project, adequate arrangement of the project’s documentation and the formation of management units must be carried out.

Finland’s regulatory authority gained an advantageous experience during the licensing process of the Olkiluoto NPP. Today it is revising the system of regulatory documentation – simplifying and harmonizing. The same is awaiting us. We are also revising the regulatory documentation; we are attempting to assess and take into account the experience of other countries and the newly drawn requirements of the TATENA. There is a plan provided inside the VATESI. We will begin implementing it by 2011. During the process of licensing, we will improve and optimize the regulatory system. This experience is of great importance to us. No-one in Lithuania has ever done this before. By now we have licensed only the operating units of Ignalina NPP. Licensing of the new NPP is a completely different story.

What problems may prevent Lithuanian companies from integrating into the project on construction of the new Visaginas nuclear power plant?

G. Maksimovas: I do not see any major obstacles. If companies want to participate in this process, they have to know and assess the stipulated terms and conditions. There are no special requirements for the companies working in the area of the NPP. Companies producing the equipment for nuclear energy have to introduce a quality control system, understand the purpose of the nuclear energy objects, and follow the concept of safety culture at their work. Those companies have to understand how potentially dangerous the object, for which they produce components, equipment or provide services, is. For instance, Poland produces many components for the power plant in Finland. These components include steel modules, from which a protective shell for the power plant will be mounted. The Finnish regulatory authority has worked extensively with the Polish contractors, explaining the purpose and importance of these components for the safety of the constructed NPP. The scope was to show the manufactures to what extent the quality of their work is important for the safety of the object. Manufactures must recognize the responsibility that lies on their shoulders too. A person producing a component for a safety barrier has to understand that his task may have a huge impact on the safety of all the NPP. Thus, the companies must also know the principles of the safety culture of nuclear energy.

The system of certification and accreditation in the nuclear energy industry in general is similar to other branches of industry which produce potentially dangerous equipment. As a result, it is of crucial importance to learn from other branches of industry, applying means that enable achieving the best results. The same factors that operate in the nuclear energy sector operate in the whole world, as there is a global market. Components for the Olkiluoto NPP are produced in many countries all over the world, for instance, Poland, France, Germany and other countries. There are chains of suppliers providing components for power plants. Some companies, constructing the NPP, certify their suppliers themselves; they assess their readiness and the quality control systems. The final responsibility for the use of nuclear energy falls on the company operating the object and it shall verify the quality of the provided components and services itself. In turn, the regulatory and supervising authority, the VATESI, carries out state supervision of all tasks.

It feels like our companies are not yet very interested in the possibility of participating in the construction of the new nuclear power plant. I believe that the company constructing the NPP, coming to Lithuania, will analyse the local market and will consider what can be produced in Lithuania, as it is cheaper this way. Therefore, many things depend on our companies’ activity. It would be good if Lithuanian entrepreneurs were more active in showing an interest in the emerging possibilities.