Finland’s Olkiluoto 4 project has entered a new phase with the start of engineering studies by five potential technology suppliers to ensure licensability in Finland. Teollisuuden Voima Oyj expects bids for the new unit at the beginning of 2013.
The five plant alternatives at the bidding phase of the OL4 project are: Areva with an EPR plant type, GE Hitachi with an ESBWR plant type, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power with an APR1400 plant type, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries with its APWR and Toshiba with an ABWR plant.
MHI announced, 26 March, that it would conduct a feasibility aiming to secure and fulfill the engineering procurement and construction requirements for the OL4 project in its bid of the 1700 MW EU-APWR. MHI said it has established a liaison office in the Finnish capital Helsinki to improve collaboration with TVO, Finland’s nuclear safety authority, and partner companies.
GEH said in a statement 27 March that it was 'honored and excited' to recieve TVO's formal application to submit a bid for the OL4 reactor. GEH is preparing its bid jointly with international engineering and construction company Fluor.
Janne Mokka, senior vice president, OL4 project said that TVO is in the process of expanding its OL4 project organization, which currently stands at around 50 people.
