Finnish utility TVO said, 17 July, that it estimates the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant unit will not be ready for regular electricity production in 2014. The estimate is based on information from the AREVA-Siemens Consortium that is supplying the EPR plant, TVO said.
The OL3 plant was originally expected to start commercial electricity production at the end of April 2009.
“The plant 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,” SVP Corporate Relations, Mrs. Anna Lehtiranta commented.
“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 have been mainly completed. The major components of the reactor plant, such as reactor pressure vessel, pressurizer and four steam generators have been installed. Welding works of the primary coolant circuit pipeline have been completed. Preparations for the commissioning of the plant unit are proceeding.
