2 Feb (NucNet): Finnish utility Fennovoima has received commercial bids from Areva and Toshiba for the Hanhikivi-1 nuclear unit which is planned for construction in the Pyhäjoki municipality in northern Finland.
Technical bids arrived already last month and their evaluation is under way, Fennovoima said in a statement. A supplier will be chosen either this year or in 2013.
Fennovoima chose Areva’s European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) and Toshiba’s Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (ABWR) as potential technologies in 2008.
Since then, technical development work has been carried out with both suppliers.
In Areva’s bid, the turbine island will be supplied by either Alstom or Siemens. Technical development work has been carried out with them as well. Toshiba proposes to deliver both the reactor and the turbine through its own company.
Construction of Hanhikivi-1 is expected to begin in 2015 and the plant could enter commercial operation in 2020 at the earliest.
Fennovoima was established in 2007 and the Finnish parliament granted the company a decision-in-principle for construction of a nuclear plant in 2010. The electricity produced by the plant will be delivered at cost price to the company’s 70 shareholders.
Finland has four nuclear units in commercial operation and one, the EPR Olkiluoto-3, under construction. Olkiluoto-3 is scheduled to be connected to the grid in 2013.
