The Fin 5 -project

In October 2000, Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) left an application in order for the Finnish Government to make a decision in principle about building a new nuclear power plant unit either to Loviisa or Olkiluoto power plant. The environmental impacts of planned units were reported before the application, according to the law of environmental impacts assessment (EIA). The assessment was made regarding both the alternative locations.

The Finnish Government made its affirmative decision in principle concerning TVO:s application, considering that building a new unit is in line with the overall good of society. The Finnish Parliament confirmed the decision on Friday May 24th 2002 with clear figures 107-92. There are 200 members in Finnish Parliament, but the Chairman don't vote.

There will be 400,000 tons of soil excavated on the construction site of the new power plant. When building the presently operating plants, 70,000 tons of soil was transferred to a few hectares’ area near the power plant area in Olkiluoto. The new power plant is larger in outer measurements and it must be terrorism-proof. Probably for these reasons the hole excavated must also be deeper. To preserve the beautiful seashore view, constructing underground as much as possible is preferred.

The Council of State granted construction licence to TVO:s nuclear power plant project February 17th 2005. It became valid at once. In granting the licence the Council of State relied especially on statement given by Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority of Finland (STUK) and a comprehensive safety assessment related to it. According to STUK, there were no safety-related obstacles for granting a construction licence for the power plant project. Before the plant unit may operate, an operation licence must be applied from the Council of State.

According to the decision in principle made by the Council of State and confirmed by the Parliament, the new plant will be a Light Water Reactor plant, with 1000-1600 MW net electric power output. The project does not require state subsidies, loans or tax breaks. Aptitude tests were made to three Pressure Water Reactors (PWR) and three Boiling Water Reactors (BWR)

TVO chose a 1600 MW Pressure Water Reactor plant unit as Finland’s fifth nuclear power plant. It will be built by the consortium of French Framatome ANP and German Siemens. Altogether 61 Finnish companies will be involved in the construction project. This is the biggest separate investment ever in Finland. Cost for the power plant in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, is over three billion euros.

The project employs approximately for 30,000 man-years work in about five years. The maximum amount of employees on the Olkiluoto construction site will be over 2,000.

Consortium of Framatome and Siemens builds the unit by turnkey construction. Framatome is responsible for the nuclear power plant delivery and Siemens for turbine delivery. A European Pressurised water Reactor (EPR) -unit is based on French N4-plants and German Konvoi-plants. Reactor in the plant will be a Pressure Water Reactor 4,300 MW at thermal power, whose total efficiency factor will be approximately 38%. The new power plant unit is due to start energy production for the national network in early 2009.

-The contract is fixed-price. In practise, except quarrying work, the consortium is responsible for constructing the whole power plant unit with installation, testing and implementation, says TVO:s Managing Director Mauno Paavola in company’s announcement.

TVO chose to locate the fifth nuclear power plant in Olkiluoto in Eurajoki. According to TVO:s Managing Director Mauno Paavola, Olkiluoto was chosen, as it turned out to be more economical in overall comparison with Loviisa.