Olkiluoto 3 project: nuclear operation to start end of 2012

On June 4, 2010, the AREVA-Siemens Consortium supplying the Olkiluoto 3 (OL3) nuclear plant submitted a proposal to its Finnish customer, TVO, future operator of this 3+ Generation reactor, outlining the calendar and milestones for completion of the project till the reactor fuel loading.

The main civil works are completed and almost all the buildings are now fully closed and weatherproofed. After delay at the onset, the piping installation is now in progress. In addition, installation of the main components, such as the reactor pressure vessel will begin in the coming days.

Furthermore, the relevant authorities accept the Instrumentation and Control system’s architecture for the OL3 plant. Preparations for plant commissioning will therefore begin as foreseen.

ln light of the current progress on site and the course of actions established, the nuclear operation of the OL3 plant including the fuel loading will start at the end of 2012.