Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant and Newcleo will cooperate in assessing the feasibility of advanced nuclear reactors in Lithuania

On 9 July in Rome, on the eve of the Ukraine Recovery Conference, the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) and the European nuclear energy company Newcleo signed a Memorandum of Understanding, which envisages close cooperation in the analysis of the feasibility of the advanced fast reactor technology in Lithuania. This technology could be an important step towards the introduction of reliable and efficient energy solutions and the safe and sustainable management of spent nuclear fuel in the country.

Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas, who took part in the signing of the cooperation agreement, said that the agreement will encourage the implementation of new pilot projects related to nuclear energy in Lithuania.  “The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant has been a strategic pillar of Lithuania’s energy system for many years, together with the high level of expertise of nuclear power specialists, which is now being used only for INPP closure activities.  Our aim is not only to preserve this expertise, but also to use it for the development of advanced nuclear technologies.  Although the implementation of such projects is not rapid, we should not miss the opportunity to assess the potential of such technologies to further reduce the volume of spent nuclear fuel in the future, and this agreement allows us to start assessing innovative solutions now,” said Ž. Vaičiūnas.

This agreement is an important step towards finding innovative solutions to manage the nuclear legacy of Lithuania’s nuclear power plant and ensure the stability of the country’s energy independence.  “We have nuclear energy expertise that we can and must use as we move into a new energy phase. This agreement opens up opportunities to assess how our existing expertise and infrastructure can be applied to innovative solutions, both in the field of power generation and spent nuclear fuel management.  Cooperating with international partners such as Newcleo, we will look for sustainable solutions to advance Lithuania’s energy sector,” said Linas Baužys, Director General of INPP. 

According to Stefano Buono, CEO of Newcleo, the company aims to apply its advanced operating model to countries that have experience in nuclear operations or inherited spent fuel.  “This agreement will contribute to sustainable solutions for radioactive waste management and energy security in Europe. I am pleased that Lithuania, with its strong nuclear roots, is open to new nuclear energy perspectives,” said S. Buono.

Newcleo’s technology is based on an advanced lead-cooled reactor solution that allows the use of spent nuclear fuel for reactor operation, which can provide an alternative to sustainable radioactive waste management.

The direction of the development of such reactors has already been chosen by Slovakia.  Last month, state-owned nuclear operator JAVYS shared its plans to develop a four-reactor project using MOX (Mixed Oxide Fuel) fuel made from existing spent fuel from the country’s existing reactors.

As already announced, the Government of the Republic of Lithuania last week discussed feasibility for the development of nuclear power in the country.  During the meeting, the proposal to establish a special working group under the Ministry of Energy was approved, with representatives from the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant also participating in its activities. This group will analyse the application of advanced nuclear technologies and assess their potential in the Lithuanian energy system.

In April 2023, the European Commission issued a declaration supporting the development of safety and technology for small modular reactors, seeing these technologies as an alternative to coal-fired power plants and as a complement to renewable energy sources.

According to the survey conducted by Eurobarometer in 2025, 57% of Lithuanian residents have a positive view of the prospects for nuclear energy over the next 20 years.

The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, closed in 2010 as part of Lithuania’s commitment to join the European Union, is today actively operating not only to ensure the safe management of radioactive waste, but also to contribute to the development of advanced nuclear technologies that will strengthen Lithuania’s energy security and independence. 

The company’s mission is to create a clean environment by sustainably managing the legacy of nuclear activities, and one of its main objectives is to implement the immediate dismantling of the plant without leaving an unreasonable burden on future generations.  After dismantling, a deep geological repository is planned to be built and operated until 2080.  During this period, the aim is to establish itself as a next generation advanced company and to continue its successful development of nuclear energy activities.

In the photo, in the front from left: Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant CEO Linas Baužys and "Newcleo" CEO Stefano Buono. Behind them from the left: Ambassador of the Lithuanian Embassy in Italy Dalia Kreivienė and Minister of Energy Žygimantas Vaičiūnas.