On 17 July Finnish utility TVO said that it estimated that the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant would not be ready for regular electricity production during 2014. This estimate is based on information from the Areva-Siemens consortium that is supplying the EPR plant. OL3 was originally expected to start commercial production at the end of April 2009.
“The unit’s installation works and plant automation system engineering under the responsibility of the supplier have not progressed according to the supplier’s schedules. Even though we are not pleased with the situation and the fact that there have been repeated challenges with the time scheduling, works are progressing and solutions for remaining I&C items are fixed step by step”, Anna Lehtiranta, of SVP Corporate Relations, commented on behalf of TVO.
“The supplier is constructing the plant unit with a fixed-price turnkey contract and is responsible for the time schedule,” TVO said in a statement. “TVO expects the supplier to update the overall schedule and provide a new confirmation and analysis of the completion date as well as clarification of the measures needed to keep up with the schedule,” it added.
The civil construction works of the OL3 plant unit are, for the most part, complete. The major components of the reactor plant, such as the reactor pressure vessel, pressuriser and four steam generators, have been installed. Welding works on the primary coolant circuit pipeline have been completed. Preparations for commissioning of the plant unit are proceeding.
