Finland’s EPR nuclear reactor at Olkiluoto-3 was commissioned for the first time on Saturday, the plant operator announced.
“Today Saturday March 12, 2022 at 10:00 GMT, the reactor was connected to the national grid at a level of 103 MW,” TVO announced in a press release.
The production of electricity from the Finnish EPR, built by the Areva-Siemens consortium, begins twelve years following the commissioning date initially planned.
After reaching its cruising speed in July, Olkiluoto-3 will be the most powerful reactor in operation on the Old Continent. With a production capacity of 1,650 megawatts, it must provide around 14% of the country’s consumption, which today imports up to a quarter of its consumption from abroad during winter peaks.
The site, launched in 2005, had become an ordeal for Areva due to delays and financial drifts. The initial construction bill of 3 billion euros has been tripled, and surprise delays have accumulated.
In addition to Olkiluoto-3, two other reactors are in operation on the west coast of Finland at Eurajoki.
