Fennovoima has invited Russia's Rosatom to "direct negotiations" regarding the supply of a VVER-1200 nuclear power plant for Hanhikivi in northern Finland. It is also considering Toshiba's 1600 MW EU-ABWR design for the site.
The announcement comes after Fennovoima completed a study into the feasibility of building a mid-sized reactor (1000-1300 MW) at Hanhikivi. Other designs from AREVA, AREVA-Mitsubishi and Toshiba were also considered as part of the study.
Fennovoima said that it is interested in the Russian pressurized water reactor AES-2006 design. Russia is currently building eight AES-2006 reactors at home and has received 19 similar reactor orders from outside Russia.
If the AES-2006 is selected, the design will be "updated to meet the newest Finnish safety requirements," Fennovoima said in a 5 April statement.
Negotiations with Rosatom began immediately. Direct negotiations with Toshiba for the EU-ABWR started in February. Fennovoima says it will select a plant supplier in 2013.
