[Machine translation] A vibration problem has been detected in a third-generation EPR reactor built by Areva in Finland. The Finnish nuclear regulator, which has to grant its operating license, has identified overshoots of the vibration limits of a part of the pressurizer. Delayed several times, the Olkiluoto 3 EPR reactor site was the subject of a dispute and an agreement between Areva and Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO).
Usine Nouvelle 25th Feb 2019 read more »
The Finnish Nuclear Safety Authority (Stuk) announced on Monday that the government may issue an operating permit for the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor through to the year 2038, even though the facility still faces unresolved safety issues . The facility is located on the island of Olkiluoto off the western coast of Finland and owned by the Industrial Power Corporation (TVO). The reactor has been dogged by construction delays, cost overruns and tit-for-tat lawsuits between the Finnish nuclear utility TVO and the majority French nuclear contractor Areva. The nuclear plant was originally due to power up in 2009, however production has been pushed back to 2020, 11 years behind schedule. Stuk’s announcement on Monday therefore marks a major step forward for the facility as the Finnish government will rely on the evaluation in its decision over whether or not to grant a final operating licence. While Stuk concluded that Olkiluoto 3 is safe to operate, the report included critical measures that would have to be implemented prior to the facility receiving a loading permit for the nuclear fuel and before it can be connected to the national power grid. Test operations in early 2018 uncovered an anomaly in the reactor. Stuk called on TVO to take steps to suppress vibration in the pressuriser surge line of the primary circuit before loading fuel in the reactor. TVO has suggested two different technical solutions and said that it will inspect plans for the eventual solution before supervising the work and verifying its quality before fuel loading can take place.
YLE 25th Feb 2019 read more »
World Nuclear News 26th Feb 2019 read more »
