The largest nuclear reactor in Europe starts generating electricity

Olkiluoto 3, Europe’s largest nuclear reactor in Finland with a capacity of 1600 megawatts, went into operation yesterday.

Olkiluoto 3 was supposed to start regular power production in December last year, but there were delays due to months of production tests. With the reactor commissioned yesterday, Finland began to supply more than 50 percent of its electricity from nuclear power. The new reactor will have at least 60 years of electricity generating capacity.

“Generation from Olkiluoto 3 stabilizes the price of electricity and plays an important role in the green transition in Finland,” said Jarmo Tanhua, CEO of TVO, the operator of the power plant.

The reactor at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant, on the west coast of Finland, was built by the Franco-German consortium Areva-Siemens. The commissioning of the reactor, which was scheduled to start up in 2009, was delayed due to increased construction costs.

Finland aims to increase the use of nuclear power to reduce energy imports into Russia. (AA)