Delays Could Impact Finnish Reactor Lifespan

Delays have aged Olkiluoto 3's concrete containment structure, which was built several years ago, and that could shorten its lifespan, said Pekka Valikangas, STUK's section head for nuclear reactor regulation.

"Ιt has aged more than compared to normal construction time ... During construction water insulation systems were not ready and that affected the components, it had its consequences," he said.

"It's not possible to guarantee that it will live up to its full lifetime," added Valikangas.

However, suppliers Siemens (SIEMENS.NS) and Areva, now called Orano, said they do not expect any impact on the 1.6 gigawatt reactor's lifespan. They corrected water insulation systems during construction.

"Siemens sees no issue with (its) lifespan despite the delays," a spokesman said in an email. Siemens is responsible for the non-nuclear part of the plant.

Orano, supplying all the other components, said in an email: "Delay in construction does not have an impact on the nuclear plant's lifespan."

Operator Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) is in a legal battle with suppliers over cost overruns.

TVO is claiming 2.6 billion euros from the Orano-led consortium, which has filed a counter-claim of 3.6 billion euros. TVO won a third partial award in arbitration last November, but the final outcome is still pending.

The plant's building cost has risen to 8.5 billion euros ($10.52 billion) from 3.2 billion initially, Orano has said.

The start of Olkiluoto 3's regular production has been postponed to May 2019, nearly a decade later than originally planned.

"We are late. STUK has just said that they might have to follow things more carefully somewhere in the future. It's normal," TVO spokesman Pasi Tuohimaa said.