The Finnish nuclear reactor EPR of Olkiluoto-3 was commissioned for the first time on Saturday, the operator of the central.
The production of electricity from the Finnish EPR, built by the Areva-Siemens consortium, begins twelve years following the commissioning date initially planned.
“Today Saturday March 12, 2022 at 10:00 GMT, the reactor was connected to the national grid at a level of 103 MW”, announced the operator TVO in a press release.
When electricity production reaches its normal level, which is expected in July, the reactor will supply regarding 14 percent of Finland’s electricity with 1,650 megawatts, he said.
The Olkiluoto-3 reactor will become one of the most powerful in Europe. Two others reactors are in service on the west coast of Finland at Eurajoki.
The EPR, of French origin, was the first nuclear reactor purchased in Europe following the Chernobyl disaster, which led to a revision of the entire approach to nuclear safety.
It is reputed to offer greater power and better security.
But the EPRs built in Finland, France and the United Kingdom have suffered from delays and financial slippages.
In the case of Olkiluoto, the delays gave rise to disputes over compensation between TVO and Areva.
In the United Kingdom, Hinkley Point, located in the south of England, has postponed the start of electricity production by six months, now scheduled for mid-2026.
po / gw / eb / blb
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