Olkiluoto 3 European pressurised reactor project, Finland – update

30th April 2021 By: Sheila Barradas - Creamer Media Research Coordinator & Senior Deputy Editor

Olkiluoto 3 European pressurised reactor project, Finland – update

Name of the Project
Olkiluoto (OL) 3 European pressurised reactor (EPR) project.

Location
Western Finland.

Project Owner/s
Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO).

Project Description
The project involves the construction of the OL3 nuclear power plant unit, which will include an EPR adjacent to the existing OL1 and OL2 units.

OL3 will have an output of about 1 600 MW and once operating at full capacity, the OL3 plant will produce about 13 TWh/y of electricity and meet about 14% of Finland's electricity demand.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at more than €3-billion.

Planned Start/End Date
Grid connection is scheduled for October 2021, with regular electricity production due to start in February 2022.

Completion of the reactor was originally scheduled for 2009, but the project has had various delays and setbacks.

Latest Developments
The loading of fuel assemblies into the OL3 EPR started on March 27. This follows the receipt of a permit from Finland’s Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.

The loading of fuel will be followed by a commissioning phase lasting several months, during which TVO will undertake a new series of hot functional tests to verify that the plant's systems work correctly.

These tests must be completed before the unit achieves first criticality and commissioning for commercial operation. TVO requires authorisation from STUK before advancing from one commissioning phase to another.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Areva–Siemens Consortium, comprising Areva GmbH, Areva NP SAS and Siemens AG (plant supplier).

Contact Details for Project Information
TVO +358 2 83 811.