Fennovoima’s CEO Tapio Saarenpää was interviewed in a radio show of the Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. The topic was the current status of the nuclear power plant project. The selection of the site for the power plant is the next big step.
“Our assessments are completed and we are now waiting for the decisions of the Supreme Administrative Court regarding appeals that have been submitted concerning land use planning. Soon after the court verdict Fennovoima is to make its decision. We are confident about the court decisions but need to wait for them so that we have all information needed for the site selection.”
“This is a big decision for Finland, and it is not an easy choice. Fennovoima wants to be a good neighbor and we have been building this relationship with the both sites during the last years. In both sites, majority of the people supports the project.“
Another big milestone is the selection of the plant supplier. Fennovoima has two alternatives: Areva and Toshiba. The bid invitation was sent to these companies in July. According to Mr Saarenpää, these two alternatives were selected in order to enable technical development work and because Areva and Toshiba are big and reliable companies. Mr Saarenpää says Fennovoima will carry out infrastructure works independently.
“It is important that the plant alternatives fulfill the safety requirements of the Finnish authorities and those of Fennovoima.”
Fennovoima has not yet made an agreement on final disposal of spent nuclear fuel with the Finnish nuclear waste management company Posiva, but Saarenpää is confident that an agreement will be reached.
“In Finland, a national solution has always been the starting point in nuclear waste management. All nuclear waste produced in Finland is to be located in one place – this one site principle is applied in other countries, too. The Finnish Government prioritizes national solution. There is a strong political support for single solution. It will take decades before the nuclear waste produced by the future plant of Fennovoima is to be finally disposed. “
According to Mr Saarenpää Fennovoima project is based on careful preparation and planning work. Construction starts after the currently ongoing preparations have been finalized. The ground works in the chosen site are expected to be started in 2012 and the actual construction work around 2015. Mr Saarenpää points out that the plant design alternatives are not similar and a more accurate schedule can be made after the plant design has been chosen and agreement signed.
“This is a big, international project and Finns will hopefully join the construction. Fennovoima wants Finnish companies to have equal possibilities to participate and to be competitive. This has been our target as we have been informing and guiding Finnish companies in the north”, Mr Saarenpää says.
“Infrastructure works suit Finns very well, but there is also experience in Finland of big scale industrial construction that is needed in the implementation of the nuclear power plant project. There is expertise in Finland that is of use for Fennovoima project.”
>> Read more about the project.
