Finnish authorities allowed to increase the capacity of the Olkiluoto-3 nuclear power plant

HELSINKI, 6 Sep – PRIME. Unit 3 of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in Finland has received permission to generate electricity at more than 60% of its capacity, the Finnish Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) said in a statement.

The Radiation Safety Center (STUK) has issued a permit to increase the capacity of the third reactor (OL3) of the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant to more than 60% of its full capacity.

After obtaining permission, the station will gradually increase the reactor power from 60% to full power, the report says.

The station was put into test operation on August 8 at a level of up to 60% of capacity.

At the current stage, the main goal is to subject the station to different tests at different power levels. According to the current production plan, tests at 80% of the power level will be carried out in September, and tests at full power in early October, Johanna Aho, a representative of the operator of the Teollisuuden voima station, told RIA Novosti earlier.

The production of electricity from the Olkiluoto-3 nuclear power plant is critically important for Finland in the perspective of the approaching winter, the cessation of electricity imports from Russia and the energy crisis in the EU against the background of sanctions against Russia and its energy carriers against the backdrop of a special operation in Ukraine.

The commercial operation of the Olkiluoto-3 nuclear power plant is scheduled to start in December. It is estimated that the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant will produce approximately 14% of Finland’s electricity needs.

Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant is a nuclear power plant in Western Finland. The station is located on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia of the Baltic Sea on the island of Olkiluoto. The two reactors already in operation produce 16% of Finland’s energy consumption. In 2002, it was decided to build a third power unit at the nuclear power plant. In 2003, the French group Areva became the construction contractor. The final building permit was obtained in 2005. The construction cost was estimated at 3 billion euros, but subsequently it tripled to 9 billion euros.