Ignalina N-plant chief stepping down

The move was reported to BNS by Janulevičius after meeting with Energy Minister Žygimantas Vaičiūnas. In his words, the decision was taken by agreement and the resignation would be submitted on Tuesday.

"Obvious progress has lately been achieved in the decommissioning process of the operations of the Ignalina NPP – there were no delays or problems with efficient use of money. In light of the current situation, a decision was taken that the company should be headed by a new chief," Vaičiūnas said in a press release.

Janulevičius will leave the post on Jan. 31, and a competition for a new CEO will be announced soon.

At the end of December, Lithuania's law-enforcement closed a pre-trial investigation into the allegations about the 2014 auction to sell 2,000 tons of radioactively contaminated copper tubes estimated at 1.5 billion euros. Abuse suspicions were brought against six individuals, including Janulevičius.

The closure projects, estimated at hundreds of millions of euros, are co-financed by the European Commission (EC) and international donors operating via the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).