Plant supplier informs that regular electricity production of Olkiluoto 3 EPR starts in May 2019

9.10.2017

Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) has received information on the plant supplier AREVA-Siemens consortium´s schedule rebaseline review for the Olkiluoto 3 EPR project. According to the information the start of regular electricity production at the OL3 EPR nuclear power plant unit will take place in May 2019.

The plant supplier has been preparing a schedule review for the project completion for some time. The work has now reached a phase where the supplier confirms the main milestones. According to the supplier, the first connection to the grid takes place in December 2018, and the start of regular electricity production will take place in May 2019. According to the supplier´s plant ramp-up program the unit will produce 2–4 TWh of electricity, at varying power levels, during the period of time between the first connection to the grid and the start of regular electricity production.

- We are very disappointed by this additional delay. There is still substantial work to be accomplished in the OL3 EPR project and it is essential that all the necessary technical, human and financial resources are allocated to the project. The restructuring of the French nuclear industry must not compromise this, says Mr Jouni Silvennoinen, SVP, OL3 Project from TVO.

While the OL3 EPR project is progressing in the testing phase, with the realization of some recent milestones, many important tests are yet to be carried out. The previous schedule planned for the start of regular electricity production at the end of 2018.

- Our objective remains the prompt completion of the OL3 EPR project. TVO continues to be committed to supporting the turn-key plant supplier. TVO is an experienced plant operator and continues to undertake its own duties in a timely manner. We look forward to the start of electricity production in the fully operational EPR plant unit, Silvennoinen says.

The OL3 plant supplier consortium is constructing the plant unit under a fixed-price turnkey contract. TVO selected EPR technology for its third plant unit in 2003 and the supplier started the construction works in spring 2005 with a contractual obligation to start the electricity production in spring 2009. The supplier consortium companies AREVA GmbH, AREVA NP SAS and Siemens AG are jointly and severally liable for the plant contract obligations including current and future liabilities until the end of the guarantee period of the project.

More information:
Jouni Silvennoinen, Senior Vice President, OL3 Project.

Interview requests:
Pasi Tuohimaa, Communications Manager, Tel. +358 40 544 5001

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