The electricity production from Finland's Olkiluoto 1&2 nuclear power plant rose around 5% to 7086 GWh in the first half of 2013, from 6756 GWh in the period 1 January-30 June 2012, according to operator TVO.
Net production from OL1 in the first half of 2013 was 3648 GWh, up from 3137 GWh for the same period in 2012. Production fell at OL2 from 3619 to 3438 GWh, according to TVO's interim report, released 18 July. However, the overall capacity or load factor was 92.9%, up from 88.1% in the first half of 2012.
Annual outages were carried out at both units; between 12 May and 14 June 2013, according to operator TVO. The main maintenance activities during the 18-day outage at OL2 included replacement of the low-voltage switchgears and transformers; repair of the generator stator; refuelling; leak-tightness test of the containment and replacement of two seawater pumps. OL1 had a refueling outage which took less than eight days, TVO said.
In an update on its new nuclear projects, TVO confirmed that as of 30 June civil construction works on OL3 had been "mainly completed," and that about 2500 personnel were working onsite. Major components, including the reactor pressure vessel, pressurizer and four steam generators have been installed, and the primary coolant circuit pipeline has been welded. Installation of the fuel handling equipment had been completed and testing of the equipment in the fuel building was ongoing, according to TVO. TVO said, however, that "planning, documentation and licensing of the reactor plant automation are not yet completed."
In June, TVO said it raised a EUR 100 million shareholder loan for the OL3 project and a EUR 10 million shareholder loan for the bidding and engineering phase of the OL4 project. The evaluation of bids for its OL4 project, received in January, remained underway, TVO said.
Photo: OL1&2 (Source: TVO)
