12 Oct (NucNet): Commercial operation of the Olkiluoto-3 nuclear unit in Finland could now be delayed one year until 2014, operator Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) said today.
TVO said in a statement that construction of the European pressurised water reactor unit has proceeded “in several areas”, but based on the latest progress information submitted by plant supplier Areva-Siemens, regular operation “may be postponed until 2014”.
TVO said the plant supplier is responsible for the schedule and TVO has asked Areva-Siemens for an analysis of the anticipated date for the start of regular operation.
Main civil construction activities at the site have been completed and primary component installations are close to completion, TVO said. “However, the plant supplier has told us about a further delay in the development of the I&C (instrumentation and control) system, which has become critical for the time schedule.”
Reactor plant piping and electrical installation works have taken longer than estimated and the accumulated delays will impact the start of the commissioning, TVO said.
In December 2010 Areva denied rumours in the French media that Olkiluoto-3 was experiencing delays.
At the time, Areva said it was keeping to the schedule announced in June 2010 and that the unit should be connected to the grid in 2013 after construction ends and fuel is loaded in late 2012.
In October 2008, TVO was told by Areva-Siemens that Olkiluoto-3 would be delayed to 2012 from its initial start-up target of 2009.
>>Related reports in the NucNet database (available to subscribers)
Areva Denies French Media Rumours Of Olkiluoto-3 Delays (News in Brief No. 216, 1 December 2010)
Olkiluoto-3 Scheduled To Begin Commercial Operation In 2013 (News in Brief No. 101, 8 June 2010)
