Damage has been detected in the inner parts of the feed water pumps of the turbine plant at Finland’s Olkiluoto 3 EPR reactor, plant owner-operator Teollisuuden Voima Oyj (TVO) has said. “In connection with maintenance and inspection work, damage has been observed in the inner parts of the feed water pumps of the Olkiluoto 3 turbine plant. The matter will probably have an impact on the progress of the trial operation of Olkiluoto 3 and the start of regular electricity production,” TVO noted.
According to Siemens, which is part of the plant supplier consortium, the impact of damage to the feed water pumps on the schedule is not yet known. Together with the plant supplier, TVO actively participating in the investigation work. The feed water pumps located in the turbine plant of the nuclear power plant pump water from the feed water tank to the evaporators. Damage to the pumps has no effect on nuclear safety.
The plant supplier is obliged to complete the plant unit in accordance with the plant supply and overall settlement agreements. The regular electricity production of the OL3 EPR was previously announced to start in December 2022, based on information received from the plant supplier.
The OL3 EPR plant supplier consortium consatructed the plant based on a fixed-price turnkey contract. The plant supplier consortium includes Areva GmbH, Areva NP SAS and Siemens AG, which are jointly responsible for the obligations of the plant supply contract until the end of the plant unit's warranty period. Construction of OL3 began in 2005. Completion of the reactor was originally scheduled for 2009, but the project has faced a series of delays and setbacks.
Image: Olkiluoto 3 EPR reactor (courtesy of TVO)
