REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the implementation of the work under the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme to Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia in 2018 and previous years
Date: 2019-05-03
Institutions: Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission
Subjects: Bulgaria, EU programme, Lithuania, Slovakia, decommissioning of power stations, nuclear policy, nuclear power station, nuclear safety, principle of additionality, radioactive waste

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 3.5.2019  COM(2019) 215 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL on the implementation of the work under the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme to Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia in 2018 and previous years         
 
 
INTRODUCTION 

1 
In  June  2018  the  Commission  established  the  mid-term  evaluation  report1  of  the 
European  Union  nuclear  decommissioning  assistance  programmes  in  Bulgaria, 
Lithuania  and  Slovakia.  It  concluded  that  these  Member  States  made  effective  and 
efficient progress in decommissioning their respective nuclear power plant (Kozloduy 
Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) units 1 to 4 in Bulgaria; Ignalina NPP in Lithuania; and 
Bohunice V1 NPP in Slovakia). 

Based on a revision of the detailed decommissioning plans, the mid-term evaluation 
report confirmed that no additional funding is needed in the current MFF (2014-2020) 
and that the programmes should be continued after 2020. 

At the same time the Commission adopted two proposals2, 3 for the continued support 
to  decommissioning  activities  in  Bulgaria,  Lithuania  and  Slovakia  in  the  next 
multiannual financial framework (MFF) 2021 – 2027. In particular, the proposed co-
funding  after  2021  will  enable  Bulgaria  and  Slovakia 
the 
decommissioning of the concerned reactors, and support Lithuania to continue safely 
and  steadily  the  decommissioning  of  the  Ignalina  nuclear  power  plant,  a  first-of-a-
kind process of unprecedented scale whereby a large amount of radioactive graphite 
needs to be retrieved. 

to  complete 

The present report follows up the evaluation and reviews the further accomplishments 
obtained  in  2018.  It  fulfils  the  reporting  requirements  of  the  relevant  Council 
Regulations4, 5  and  forms  the  basis  for  adopting  the  2019  annual  work  programmes 
under  the  assistance  programmes.  In  the  current  Multiannual  Financial  Framework 
(MFF 2014-2020), the Commission has reported four times on this subject including 
the report on the mid-term evaluation of these programmes1, 6, 7, 8. 

1   Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the evaluation and 

implementation of the EU nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria, Slovakia 
and Lithuania — COM(2018)468. 

2   Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme 
of the Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania (Ignalina programme); and repealing Council 
Regulation (EU) No 1369/2013 - COM(2018)466. 

3   Proposal for a Council Regulation establishing a dedicated financial programme for 

decommissioning of nuclear facilities and management of radioactive waste, and repealing Council 
Regulation (Euratom) No 1368/2013 - COM(2018)467. 

4   Council Regulation (Euratom) No 1368/2013 of 13 December 2013 on Union support for the 
nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes in Bulgaria and Slovakia, and repealing 
Regulations (Euratom) No 549/2007 and (Euratom) No 647/2010 (OJ L346, 20.12.2013, p. 1) & 
correction (OJ L8, 11.1.2014, p. 31). 

5   Council Regulation (EU) No 1369/2013 of 13 December 2013 on Union support for the nuclear 

decommissioning assistance programme in Lithuania, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1990/2006 
(OJ L346, 20.12.2013, p. 7) & correction (OJ L8, 11.1.2014, p. 30 & OJ L121, 24.4.2014, p. 59). 
6   Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of 
the work under the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme to Bulgaria, Lithuania and 
Slovakia in 2016 and previous years — COM(2017)328. 

7   Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of 
the work under the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme to Bulgaria, Lithuania and 
Slovakia in 2015 and previous years — COM(2016)405. 

1 

 
                                                 
1.1 

The nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes 

When  they  acceded  to  the  EU,  Bulgaria,  Slovakia  and  Lithuania  committed  to 
shutting down eight nuclear reactors before the end of their scheduled lifetime: 

  Kozloduy nuclear power plant in Bulgaria (units 1 to 4); 
  Bohunice V1 nuclear power plant in Slovakia (2 units); and 
 

Ignalina nuclear power plant in Lithuania (2 units). 

The EU itself committed to providing financial assistance for safely decommissioning 
those reactors. 

Two Council Regulations4, 5 were adopted on 13 December 2013 to provide support to 
these decommissioning programmes in the MFF 2014-2020, continuing the assistance 
provided  in  previous  periods  and  having  the  general  objective  of  helping  the 
respective  Member  States  to  reach  safely  the  decommissioning  end  state  while 
maintaining  the  highest  safety  standards.  It  is  important  to  note  that  the  current 
Regulations restrict the scope of the programmes to decommissioning activities only, 
excluding  mitigation  measures  in  the  energy  sector  that  were  supported  in  previous 
periods. 

The programmes are clearly defined in terms of scope, budget and planning, with end-
dates scheduled beyond  the current  financing period.  The disposal  of spent  fuel  and 
radioactive waste in  a deep geological  repository is  not  included in  the scope of the 
programmes,  and  has  to  be  developed  by  each  Member  State  in  its  national 
programme for the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste as required by the 
relevant Directive9, 10. 

The Regulations also define the specific objectives: 

All three programmes 

  performing dismantling in turbine halls and auxiliary buildings; 
  safely  managing  the  decommissioning  waste  in  accordance  with  detailed 

waste management plans. 

Kozloduy and Bohunice programmes 

  dismantling of large components and equipment in the reactor buildings. 

8   Report from the Commission to the European Parliament and the Council on the implementation of 
the work under the nuclear decommissioning assistance programme to Bulgaria, Lithuania and 
Slovakia in the period 2010-2014 — COM(2015)78. 

9   Council  Directive  2011/70/Euratom  of  19 July  2011  on  establishing  a  Community  framework  for 
the responsible and safe management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, OJ L199, 2.8.2011, p. 48-
56. 

10   Report  from  the  Commission  to  the  Council  and  the  European  Parliament  on  progress  of 
implementation  of  Council  Directive  2011/70/Euratom  and  an  inventory  of  radioactive  waste  and 
spent fuel present in the Community’s territory and the future prospects — C(2017)236. 

2 

 
                                                                                                                                            
Ignalina programme 

  defueling of the reactor core of unit 2 and the reactor fuel ponds of units 1 and 

2 into the dry spent fuel storage facility; 

  safely maintaining the reactor units. 

2 

2.1 

PROGRAMME ADMINISTRATION 

Method of implementation 

The  Commission  implements  the  programmes'  budget,  in  accordance  with  Article 
62(1)(c)  of  the  Financial  Regulation11,  by  entrusting  its  implementation  to  the 
following bodies: 

 

 

 

for all the Programmes and since 2001, the European Bank for Reconstruction 
and  Development,  an  international  organisation,  through  dedicated  multi-
donor funds governed by their respective fund rules; 
for  the  Ignalina  programme  since  2003,  the  Central  Project  Management 
Agency, a public law body in Lithuania; 
for  the  Bohunice  programme  since  2016,  the  Slovak  Innovation  and  Energy 
Agency, a public law body in Slovakia. 

The mid-term  evaluation  reviewed the governance setup  applicable to  the assistance 
programmes and concluded that it ensured  effective and efficient implementation of 
the  programmes.  The  key  success  factors  include  clear  definitions  of  roles  and 
responsibilities  as  well  as  a  strengthened  monitoring  framework.  In  view  of  further 
improving the efficiency of the programme implementation, the adoption in 2019 of 
updated  implementation  procedures  will  be  a  key  development  that  will  lead  to  an 
update of the currently applied control strategy setting out the supervision needs, the 
objectives of the supervision activities, and the corresponding tools, working methods 
and procedures needed to achieve the supervision objectives and effective mitigation 
when deviations/risks are identified. 

The supervision of the bodies entrusted with the programmes’ budget implementation 
tasks  by  the  Commission  follows  the  rules  established  in  the  respective  delegation 
agreements. It relies on regular assessments that the bodies fulfil the requirements for 
indirect management as provided for in Article 154 of the Financial Regulation. It is 
complemented  by  risk  informed  verifications  imbedded  in  the  regular  monitoring 
process or assigned to an independent body.  

Annual programming and monitoring 

2.2 
In line with the applicable procedures,12 each concerned Member State has appointed 
a  Programme  Coordinator  responsible  for  the  programming,  coordination  and 
monitoring  of  the  decommissioning  programme  at  national  level.  The  Programme 

11  Regulation  (EU,  Euratom)  2018/1046  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  18  July 
2018  on  the  financial  rules  applicable  to  the  general  budget  of  the  Union,  amending  Regulations 
(EU)  No  1296/2013,  (EU)  No  1301/2013,  (EU)  No  1303/2013,  (EU)  No  1304/2013,  (EU)  No 
1309/2013,  (EU)  No  1316/2013,  (EU)  No  223/2014,  (EU)  No  283/2014,  and  Decision  No 
541/2014/EU and repealing Regulation (EU, Euratom) No 966/2012 (OJ L 193, 30.7.2018, p. 1). 
12   Commission Implementing Decision of 7  August 2014 on  the rules of application  for the nuclear 
decommissioning assistance programmes for Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia for the period 2014 
2020 — C(2014) 5449. 

3 

 
                                                 
Coordinators  have  submited  the  annual  work  programmes  and  the  Commission  has 
adopted them along with the financing decisions, in accordance with the examination 
procedure defined in Article 5 of the Regulation on the control by Member States of 
the  Commission’s  exercise  of  implementing  powers.13  These  work  programmes  set 
out  the  planned  activities  for  the  next  two  calendar  years,  both  financed  from  the 
Union budget and from national or other sources. 

Committees  with  monitoring  and  reporting  functions  are  in  place  for  each  Member 
State,  co-chaired  by  a  Commission  representative  and  the  respective  Programme 
Coordinator.  The  bodies  entrusted  with  budget  implementation  tasks  monitor  the 
project  implementation  on  a  day  to  day  basis.  In  addition,  the  Commission  closely 
follows  programme  implementation  through  desk  and  on-the-spot  reviews  on  a 
biannual basis. To further support this process, the earned value management system 
has been introduced in order to measure project performance and programme progress 
in an objective manner. 

2.3 

Audits and evaluations 

As  mentioned,  the  Commission  has  completed  the  mid-term  evaluation  of  the 
programmes1, including a public consultation and an assessment of the programmes’ 
results and impacts, the efficiency of the use of resources and its Union added value. 
As  required,  the  evaluation  addressed  the  scope  for  modification  of  the  detailed 
implementation  procedures12  and  as  a  result  the  Commission  identified  the  need  to 
update them in order to benefit from the lessons learned14. 

The  Commission  has  also  launched  a  study  of  the  effectiveness,  efficiency  and  EU 
added-value  of  the  energy-related  projects  funded  by  the  programmes  in  the  period 
2007-2013. The study results are expected in 2019. 

Moreover,  the  Commission  has  completed  a  thematic  verification  on  procurement 
procedures under the responsibility of the bodies entrusted with programmes’ budget 
implementation  tasks.  Based  on  20  procurement  files,  it  resulted  that  these  bodies 
fully supported the beneficiaries in achieving economy, efficiency, transparency and 
accountability in all processes, as well as  upholding fundamental  principles of  good 
procurement practice. 

3 

BUDGETARY IMPLEMENTATION AND CO-FINANCING 

At  the  outset  of  the  current  MFF,  the  three  Member  States  established  detailed 
decommissioning plans to fulfil ex-ante conditionalities4,5. These plans determined the 
overall  cost  estimates  as  well  as  the  programmes'  scope  and  schedules.  The 
programmes should be completed in 2025 in Slovakia, 2030 in Bulgaria, and 2038 in 
Lithuania. The programmes’ duration depends on a number of factors and boundary 
conditions, such as technical complexity, size of the sites and level of preparedness in 
waste  management  at  the  beginning  of  the  respective  programme.  The  Commission 

13   Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 
laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by Member States 
of the Commission’s exercise of implementing powers. 

14   Commission Implementing Decision of 26 April 2019 on detailed implementation procedures for 
the nuclear decommissioning assistance programmes for Bulgaria, Slovakia and Lithuania — 
C(2019) 3073 repealing Implementing Decision C(2014)5449 

4 

 
                                                 
assessed those plans and concluded that they were complete, relevant, comprehensive, 
and  that  the  overall  cost  estimates  were  generally  appropriate  –  as  supported  by  the 
results of an independent review15. The presently allocated funds ensure effective and 
efficient delivery of the programmes’ objectives set out in the MFF 2014-2020. 

As reported in the mid-term evaluation, the overall cost of the programmes (estimate 
at completion) has been stable since 2014 in Lithuania and Slovakia, while it has been 
revised  upwards  (+23%)  in  Bulgaria  based  on  a  due  periodical  re-assessment  of  the 
decommissioning  plan.  Correspondingly,  Bulgaria  has 
increased  national 
contributions.  

On the basis of the detailed decommissioning plans the Commission has identified the 
needs  for  the  next  MFF  (2021-2027)  and  proposed  for  providing  additional  EU 
support 3,3 aiming at completing the decommissioning (in Bulgaria and Slovakia) and 
at progressing the decommissioning (in Lithuania) by covering the needs for the next 
financing period and further contributing to the overall programme needs. 

Since  2014  the  Commission  has  adopted  five  annual  work  programmes  and  the 
associated  financing  decisions,  committing  the  assigned  budget  through  delegation 
agreements  with  the  European  Bank  for  Reconstruction  and  Development  -  EBRD 
(EUR  205.1  million  for  the  Kozloduy  programme,  EUR  9.0  million  for  Ignalina 
programme,  EUR  30.3  million  for  Bohunice  programme),  Central  Project 
Management  Agency  in  Lithuania  -  CPMA  (EUR  306.6  million)  and  the  Slovak 
Innovation  and  Energy  Agency  -  SIEA  (EUR  127.5  million).  The  Commission's 
payments  were  based  on  forecast  contract  needs  and  progress 
in  project 
implementation. 

Presently, the legal basis for EU financial support does not define a specific level of 
national  contributions.  In  2017  the  Lithuanian  government  announced  its  political 
commitment to maintaining a minimum level of national contributions at 14 % for the 
programme’s entire duration. In the present financial framework national contribution 
levels  have  increased  to  the  amounts  reported  in  Tables  1  and  2;  these  show 
disbursements and established funds cumulated since the start of the decommissioning 
assistance  programme.  In  its  proposals  for  Council  Regulations  for  the  continued 
support to decommissioning activities in Bulgaria, Lithuania and Slovakia in the next 
MFF  2021-2027,  the  Commission  has  introduced  minimum  expected  levels  of 
national contribution. 

Table 1 — Disbursements (payments to end beneficiaries), 30/06/2018 (€ million) 

Kozloduy 

Bohunice 

Ignalina 

Member State 

EU* 

275 (41 %) 

192 (42 %) 

162 (14 %) 

394 (59 %) 

263 (58 %) 

961 (86 %) 

15   ‘Nuclear Decommissioning Assistance Programme (NDAP) — Assessment of the robustness of the 
financing plans considering the economic-financial-budgetary situation in each concerned Member 
State and of the relevance and feasibility of the detailed decommissioning plans’, Deloitte, 
NucAdvisor, VVA Europe, A study prepared for the European Commission DG Energy, 2016. 

5 

 
 
                                                 
* Includes contributions from other donors. 
Source: Monitoring Reports, EBRD, CPMA 

Table 2 — Established funds (disbursements plus allocations), 30/06/2018 (€ million) 

Kozloduy 

Bohunice 

Member State 

458 

476 

EU* 

800 

671 

478 
Ignalina 
* Includes contributions from other donors.  
Source: Monitoring Reports, Annual Work Programmes, EBRD, CPMA 

1568 

4 

PROGRESS AND PERFORMANCE 

The  Commission  measures  the  progress  and  performance  of  these  programmes 
against  the  objectives  set  out  in  the  relevant  Council  Regulations4, 5.  Additionally, 
until  2018  they  have  been  monitored  through  the  detailed  target  and  schedules 
provided  for  in  the  implementation  procedures12  and  the  earned  value  management 
system.16 

To date the progress  against the objectives is generally satisfactory, although delays 
are progressively accumulating since 2014 in the overall implementation as shown by 
comparing  the  earned  value  against  the  baseline  (see figures 2, 4, and 6).  However, 
the programmes' critical path is not affected at this point in time and the end-dates are 
maintained in all three Member States. After the mid-term evaluation the time profile 
of  the  activities  has  been  revised  to  re-calibrate  the  tracking  of  progress  and 
performance through the earned value management system (see figures 2, 4, and 6). 

Bulgaria - Kozloduy programme 

4.1 
The  Kozloduy  nuclear  power  plant  (NPP)  units  1-4  are  VVER17  440/230  reactors: 
units 1 and 2 were shut down in 2002 and units 3 and 4 in 2006. 

As  of  2013,  the  decommissioning  is  under  the  control  of  the  Bulgarian  State 
Enterprise 
for  Radioactive  Waste  (SERAW),  a  dedicated  decommissioning 
organisation  whose  mission  is  the  safe  management  of  radioactive  waste  on  the 
territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. Under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy, 
SERAW  is  the  licence  holder  /  operator  in  charge  of  the  decommissioning  of 
Kozloduy NPP units 1-4 and of the National Disposal Facility (NDF). 

The Kozloduy programme made significant progress in the dismantling of equipment 
in  the  turbine  hall  and  in  the  controlled  area.  Important  waste  management 
infrastructures  –  key  in  order  to  proceed  with  the  decommissioning  –  became 
operational  in  2018:  a  workshop  for  the  size  reduction  and  decontamination  of 
dismantled equipment (since March 2018) and a facility for high-performance volume 
reduction of radioactive waste (the Plasma Melting Facility), whose first operational 
campaign started in November 2018 (see figure 1). In parallel, construction works are 
underway for the National Disposal Facility, i.e. the low and intermediate level waste 

16 ISO 21508:2018 Earned value management in project and programme management 
17   VVER, Russian: Водо-водяной энергетический реактор (Vodo-Vodyanoi Energetichesky 

Reaktor) or Water-Water Power Reactor is a series of pressurised water reactor. 

6 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
surface  repository,  which  will  receive  large  quantities  of  the  decommissioned 
materials. 

Figure 1 - Plasma Melting Facility. 

The mid-term evaluation report showed that, based on the periodical re-assessment of 
the decommissioning plan, the Bulgarian authorities concluded that the overall cost of 
the  Kozloduy  programme  (estimate  at  completion)  needed  to  be  revised  upward 
(+23%)  and  Bulgaria  has  correspondingly  increased  its  national  contributions.  The 
end date of the programme (2030) was confirmed. 

Figure 2  

Programme progress and performance measured through earned value. 

The earned value against the baseline shows the amount of work carried out against 
the  plan.  This  is  also  reflected  in  the  Schedule  Performance  Index  (SPI).  The  Cost 
Performance Index (CPI) shows that the cost of the work carried out was as planned. 
The dashed line represent the baseline updated after the mid-term evaluation and will 
be used for future tracking and monitoring. 

7 

SPICPI00.250.50.7511.251.5BillionsEarned Value versus Baseline -KozloduyBaseline 2014Updated 2018Earned Value 
 
 
The  plotted  values  include  contingencies.  The  overall  cost  estimate  (including 
contingencies) is EUR 1358 million in 2018, while it was EUR 1107 million in 2014. 

4.2 

Slovakia – Bohunice programme 

The Bohunice  V1 NPP consists of two VVER  440/230  reactors:  units 1 and 2 were 
permanently shut down in 2006 and in 2008 respectively. 
The  Slovak  Jadrová  a  vyraďovacia  spoločnosť18  (JAVYS) 
is  a  dedicated 
decommissioning  organisation  whose  mission  is  the  safe  decommissioning  of  the 
nuclear  facilities,  spent  nuclear  fuel  management  and  management  of  radioactive 
waste on the territory of the Slovak Republic. It operates under control of the Ministry 
of  Economy.  JAVYS  is  the  licence  holder  /  operator  in  charge  of  decommissioning 
Bohunice V1 NPP, spent fuel management and waste disposal facilities. 

The  Bohunice  programme  has  substantially  progressed  in  2018.  Decontamination  & 
Dismantling (D&D) works in the turbine halls and auxiliary buildings were finalised 
in 2018 with the demolition of the  four  V1  NPP  cooling  towers  (see  figure  3). 
Hence  the  first  specific  objective  set  out  in  Article  2.2.(b)(i)  of  the  relevant 
Regulation4  was  accomplished  effectively  and  efficiently.  Furthermore,  important 
D&D  works  have  also  been  performed  in  the  reactor-building:  in  2018  the 
decontamination  of  the  spent  fuel  pools  and  other  tanks  in  the  controlled  area  was 
finalised,  while  the  dismantling  of  large  components  of  the  reactor  coolant  systems 
started. 

Figure 3 - Demolition of cooling towers. 

The  waste  management  infrastructure  is  appropriate  for  the  present  needs  of 
dismantling and decontamination activities, and additional facilities are being realised 
for the future needs. The disposal route of low level waste (>90% in volume of total 
radioactive  waste)  is  being  extended  in  capacity  at  the  existing  repository  in 
Mochovce; completion is scheduled in early 2019. Also, the new interim storage for 
intermediate level waste, which cannot be disposed of at Mochovce, is completed. 

18   “Nuclear and Decommissioning Company” 

8 

 
 
 
                                                 
More than 56 projects over 73 were completed. The Bohunice programme is the most 
advanced one and will likely represent the first complete decommissioning of VVER 
type reactors. 

Figure 4  

Programme progress and performance measured through earned value. 
The plotted values do not include contingencies. The overall cost estimate (including contingencies) 
is EUR 1238 million in 2018, while it was EUR 1246 million in 2014. 

Based  on  the  revised  decommissioning  plan,  the  mid-term  evaluation  report 
concluded  that  the  overall  cost  of  the  decommissioning  programme  (estimate  at 
completion) is slightly decreasing and the completion date remains fixed at the end of 
2025. This estimate is supported by a state-of-the-art plan for risks and contingencies, 
which provides a high level of confidence in the estimations made. 

Lithuania – Ignalina programme 

4.3 
The  Ignalina  NPP  consists  of  two  RBMK19  1500  reactors:  units  1  and  2  were  shut 
down in 2004 and in 2009 respectively. 

The Lithuanian State Enterprise Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) is the licence 
holder / operator in charge of the facilities under decommissioning and of the waste 
disposal facilities. It operates under the control of the Ministry of Energy. In the last 
year,  INPP  has  further  adapted  its  structure  to  an  effective  decommissioning 
organisation, stronger in project management. 

The  Ignalina  programme  is  a  first  of  a  kind  challenge,  given  the  Chernobyl  type 
reactor  characterised  by  a  large  graphite  core.  The  overall  cost  of  the  programme 
(estimate at completion) has remained stable since 2014, likewise the completion date 
remains  the  end  of  2038.  The  removal  of  spent  fuel  assemblies  from  both  reactor 
buildings (units 1 and 2) started in September 2016. The second reactor was defueled 

19   RBMK,  Russian:  Реактор  Большой  Мощности  Канальный  (Reaktor  Bolshoy  Moshchnosti 
Kanalnyy)  or  High  Power  Channel-type  Reactor,  is  a  class  of  graphite-moderated  nuclear  power 
reactor as the Chernobyl units. 

9 

SPICPI00.250.50.7511.251.5BillionsEarned Value versus Baseline -BohuniceBaseline 2014Updated 2018Earned Value 
 
                                                 
fully in February 2018, i.e. 9 months earlier than planned. Both reactors are defueled 
and transfer operations of spent fuel from the ponds to the Interim Spent Fuel Storage 
Facility  continue  steadily.  As  at  31  December  2018,  more  than  50%  of  spent  fuel 
assemblies  were  safely  loaded  into  casks  and  put  into  storage.  According  to  the 
schedule, all spent fuel assemblies will be removed in July 2022 (see figure 5). 

Figure 5 – Casks storage. 

Moreover, works have started for the construction of the Landfill Facility for Short-
Lived Very Low Level Waste and the call for tender for the construction of the Near 
Surface Repository is ready to be launched in 2019.  

In preparation for the dismantling and decontamination of the reactors’ core zone to 
be  started  in  the  next  MFF,  the  operator  is  developing  an  optioneering  study,  the  
environmental impact assessment and a project for the temporary storage of irradiated 
graphite  waste.  A  series  of  workshops  in  2018  allowed  to  inform  extensively  more 
than 40 potential international contractors. 

10 

 
 
Figure 6 

Programme progress and performance measured through earned value. 
The plotted values include contingencies. The overall cost estimate (including contingencies) is EUR 
3377 million in 2018, as in 2014. 

The mid-term evaluation report confirmed that the Ignalina programme does not need 
additional  funding  in  the  2014-2020  period,  and  identified  the  needs  for  the  period 
until 2038 in order to tackle the dismantling of the reactors, in particular the graphite 
cores.  This  is  the  next  major  step  towards  enhancing  nuclear  safety  on  the  Ignalina 
site. 

4.4 

Energy sector projects 

In the current MFF, the assistance programme does not provide new financial support 
for  mitigation  measures  in  the  energy  sector;  however,  until  2013,  the  assistance 
programmes  had  funds  allocated  to  projects  in  the  energy  sector  in  line  with  the 
respective accession treaties and national energy policies.  

Overall, forty projects are completed by now, worth of 75% of the allocated funds. At 
this stage, the Commission considered it appropriate to launch an ex-post study on the 
results  and  impacts,  efficiency,  effectiveness  and  EU  added-value  of  those  projects. 
The conclusions will be published in 2019. 

5 

CONCLUSIONS 

In  line  with  the  expectations  set  for  the  current  MFF,  Bulgaria,  Lithuania  and 
Slovakia continued making effective and efficient progress in decommissioning their 
reactors  in  2018.  The  management  system  has  increasingly  proven  to  cope  with 
challenges and setbacks due to the complexity of the programmes. 

The  preparation  and  endorsement  of  the  respective  decommissioning  plans  in  2014 
was a major milestone and defined the limits of the assistance programmes, with the 
financing needs to achieve the decommissioning end state eventually established. At 
the  mid-term  stage,  these  needs  were  confirmed  for  the  Bohunice  and  the  Ignalina 

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SPICPI00.511.522.533.5BillionsEarned Value versus Baseline -IgnalinaBaseline 2014Updated 2018Earned Value 
 
programmes; for the Kozloduy programme, the due revision of the decommissioning 
plan resulted in an increase in cost estimates post-2020. The increase of estimates did 
not result in an equal increase of the programme’s envelope since Bulgaria committed 
to cover the increase to a large extent. 

The mid-term evaluation report thus confirmed that no additional funding is needed in 
the  current  MFF  (2014-2020)  to  achieve  the  objectives  stated  in  the  respective 
Council regulations and that the programmes should be continued after 2020.  

National  contribution  levels  are  currently  not  established  in  the  legal  basis,  which 
creates residual uncertainties. Appropriate national, relative to EU, contributions and 
defining a clear and formalised framework for ‘co-financing’ is expected to encourage 
greater national ownership and economy-seeking on the part of beneficiaries. 

The progress accomplished so far assures that  greatly improved safety levels will be 
achieved  at  the  sites  as  a  result  of  EU  funding  in  this  MFF.  Knowledge  sharing 
amongst  the  three  beneficiaries  has  positively  impacted  the  programmes  and 
contributed  to  the  latest  successes.  Building  on  that,  the  Commission  has  fostered  a 
step  up  for  the  creation  of  actual  synergies:  for  example  the  decontamination  of  the 
primary  circuits  of  the  Kozloduy  units  is  going  to  be  carried  out  by  employing  the 
equipment  acquired  under  the  Bohunice  programme  and  benefitting  of  JAVYS’ 
know-how (see point 4.2).     

In the next period major expected developments in the field include: 

 

 

 

in Bulgaria: the steady progress of construction of the National Disposal Facility, 
the management of legacy waste and the start of major D&D works in the reactor 
building; 

in Slovakia: the final dismantling of the reactor cores; 

in Lithuania: the steady progress of defueling and the preparations for dismantling 
the irradiated graphite core, which is a first of a kind project of an unprecedented 
scale. 

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