Market Consultation on the Procurement of Reactor Dismantling Services for the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant

The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (hereinafter – INPP), now operating under the name “Altra”, invites interested parties to participate in a market consultation on the procurement of reactor dismantling services, open until 21 November. The consultation aims to assess market potential and gather proposals and insights regarding the dismantling of two RBMK-1500 nuclear reactor units.

The decommissioning of the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant is a unique and the world’s first project involving the dismantling of RBMK-type reactors. Safe and efficient dismantling of the reactors is one of the key stages in the plant’s decommissioning process.

The market consultation seeks to evaluate market interest and capacity to carry out the reactor dismantling works, as well as to collect proposals on technical solutions and implementation timelines, ensuring an effective and economically sound execution of the project.

Scope of Work

The Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant consists of two RBMK-1500 reactor units, which were permanently shut down in 2004 and 2009. The reactor dismantling works will be carried out in three zones: R1, R2 and R3. Zone R1 comprises the upper equipment and structures of the main circulation circuit, zone R2 – the lower structures and equipment of the main circulation circuit, and zone R3 – the reactor core and related structures. Dismantling equipment in zones R1 and R2 is carried out solely by INPP staff and will be completed before dismantling begins in zone R3.INPP has acquired two conceptual designs for the dismantling of the reactors zone R3. These designs, along with the necessary technical documentation, will be made available to qualified participants. Participants will be free to review the existing designs and submit a technical proposal based on one of them, a combination of them, or their own solution.

INPP anticipates that the contractor will:

• Develop all the necessary design and technical documentation for the methodology, work plan, processes, and scope of each sequence of activities and work procedures (including the relevant licensing documentation in accordance with Lithuanian legislation).
• Supply the plant, equipment and labour resources necessary for dismantling reactor zone R3 and managing the resulting waste.
• Execute activities associated with the dismantling of the INPP reactor zone R3 (INPP staff will be responsible for waste management).
• Execute all activities with due regard to industrial and radiological safety, and the ALARA principles.

Consultation Process

• Interested parties must complete the attached Questionnaire and return it to [email protected] for the attention of Vytautas Kačka by 21 November 2025, 1:30 p.m. (Lithuanian time).
• All participants will receive the same non-confidential information; aggregated feedback will be anonymised.
• Participation will not confer any competitive advantage in the subsequent tender.
• The presentation will take place on 24 November 2025, 1:30 p.m. (Lithuanian time) online. The link for connection will be sent to all registered participants.
• This market consultation is undertaken in accordance with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Procurement Policies and Rules.

Key Topics for Feedback

The consultation seeks input on:

• Experience & Capacity – comparable decommissioning projects
• Technical Approaches – dismantling technology, waste packaging sizes and approaches.
• Mobilisation – lead times for equipment and specialist teams.
• Risk Management – key risks and mitigation proposals.
• Contracting Preferences – packaging, costing models, risk allocation.

Disclaimer

This market consultation is for information-gathering only and is not part of a formal procurement process. INPP reserves the right to alter the scope, timing, and approach. Participation will not influence the outcome of any subsequent procurement.

The invitation to participate in the consultation has been published on the EBRD website, where you can find the general project description and the market questionnaire: https://www.ebrd.com/home/work-with-us/project-procurement/procurement-notices/ignalina-nuclear-power-plant—9715-ifp.html#