Unit 3 of the Finnish nuclear power plant Olkiluoto arrived in critical condition for the first time last Tuesday morning. Operator TVO announced that the reactor would be connected to the national power grid by the end of January 2022. Then it should meet 14 percent of Finnish electricity needs. So far, Finland generates about a third of its electricity from nuclear power.
This is the first time in a good 40 years that a new reactor has been commissioned in Finland. it says in a message, The last time it happened in Europe was 15 years ago. Two reactors in Lovisa have been on the grid since 1977 and 1980, respectively, and two in Olkiluoto since 1978 and 1980.
Construction of the third generation pressurized water reactor Unit 3 began in the summer of 2005. Originally scheduled to go into operation in 2009, there were delays and increased construction costs. The originally estimated 3.2 billion euros grew to 9 billion.
more nuclear projects
The performance of the block has to be increased gradually. By the end of January 2022, production is expected to be around 300 to 400 MW; Regular power generation will start in June 2022, with a net generation of 1600 MW.
In 2010 the Finnish Parliament decided to build more nuclear power plants. A fourth block was originally to be built in Olkiluoto, but the project was abandoned. In the municipality of Piajoki, the Hanhikiwi Nuclear Power Plant is to be built by 2024, which will cost about 7.5 billion euros. The Olkiluoto Nuclear Waste Storage Facility is to be expanded for low and medium level radioactive waste for high level radioactive waste.
A year ago there was an incident in Block 2 of the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant when an emergency cooling system to be able to perform maintenance work was shut down as planned. The incident was rated at Level 0 on the International Nuclear Events Rating Scale (INES), which ranges up to Level 7.
(nw)
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