VILNIUS, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- A symbolic capsule was buried Thursday near the decommissioned Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant, marking the launch of construction of a repository for short-lived low- and medium-level radioactive waste, the Baltic News Service (BNS) reported.
"Lithuania is now in the final stage of waste management," Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaicunas said in a statement.
Valued at 156 million euros (180 million U.S. dollars), the repository in Stabatiskes, Visaginas Municipality, is expected to be completed by the end of 2028, put into operation in early 2029, and filled until 2040.
This will be the second radioactive waste repository on the site, the first of which is already operational, according to BNS. (1 euro = 1.16 U.S. dollar) ■
