France’s Areva said on 19 October that the European Pressurised Reactor (EPR) under construction at unit 3 of the Okiluoto NPP in western Finland was on track for cold functional tests in the early summer of 2017, after two milestones had been achieved – nuclear circuit cleaning and full scope simulator testing. This allows for the start of simulator training of Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) plant operators.
Construction of Olkiluoto 3, which began in 2005, has been plagued by delays and is now nine-years behind schedule. In 2009, contractor Siemens sold its shares of Areva NP – Areva's reactor construction company – to Areva, changing its status from the primary contractor to a subcontractor to Areva. In September 2014, Areva announced that the unit was on track for completion in mid-2016. However, costs have increased from and original estimate of $3.3bn to $9.3bn. TVO, Areva and Siemens said that finalization of the main electromechanical installations and plant finishing works are currently under way ahead of cold functional tests, planned for mid-2017. The plant is now scheduled to start up in late 2018.
