Olkiluoto-3 Scheduled To Begin Commercial Operation In 2013
Written by NucNet
Tuesday, 08 June 2010
The Areva-Siemens consortium constructing the Olkiluoto-3 (OL3) nuclear unit in Finland has said most work on the unit will be finished by the end of 2012, with operator Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) saying the unit should start commercial operation some time during 2013.
Areva said yesterday that on 4 June 2010 the consortium submitted a proposal to TVO outlining a timetable and milestones for completion of the 1,600-megawatt European pressurised water reactor (EPR) up to reactor fuel loading by the end of 2012.
The main civil works for the unit are complete and most buildings are now fully closed and weatherproofed. After delays last year with the welding of pipes, piping installation has begun and the installation of the main components such as the reactor pressure vessel will begin “in the coming days”, Areva said.
TVO said: “Certain works, such as starting of the piping installation works in the reactor island, have been slower than planned, and the completion of the piping installations will be later than scheduled.”
In October 2008, TVO was told by Areva-Siemens that OL3 would be delayed to 2012 from its initial start-up target of 2009. TVO launched proceedings for compensation for the delays and Areva-Siemens filed a request for arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce.
