Hanhikivi Nuclear Power Plant

Hanhikivi Nuclear Power Plant
Location of Hanhikivi Nuclear Power Plant in Finland
Country Finland
Location Pyhäjoki
Coordinates 64°31′40″N 24°15′56″E / 64.52778°N 24.26556°E / 64.52778; 24.26556Coordinates: 64°31′40″N 24°15′56″E / 64.52778°N 24.26556°E / 64.52778; 24.26556
Status Proposed
Commission date 2024 (expected)
Owner(s) Fennovoima
Nuclear power station
Reactor type PWR
Reactor supplier Atomstroyexport
Power generation
Make and model Gidropress: VVER 1200
Units planned 1 x 1,200 MW

Hanhikivi Nuclear Power Plant (Finnish: Hanhikiven ydinvoimalaitos, Swedish: Hanhikivi kärnkraftverk), is a nuclear power plant proposed for construction on the Finnish Hanhikivi peninsula, in the municipality of Pyhäjoki. It is to house one Russian-designed VVER-1200 PWR reactor, with a capacity of 1200 MW.[1][2] It was estimated that that the reactor will supply 10% of Finland's energy demand by 2024.[3]

Government approval

On 21 April 2010, the Government of Finland decided to grant a permit (Decision-in-Principle) to Fennovoima for construction of a nuclear reactor.[4][5][6] The decision was approved by the Parliament on 1 July 2010.[7][8]

Plant supplier

The chosen plant model is Rosatom's pressurized water reactor AES-2006 which is the latest evolution of VVER plant designs. The other bidders for the project were Areva and Toshiba.

Fennovoima began direct negotiations with Rosatom in April 2013. On 21 December 2013, Fennovoima and Rosatom Overseas, a subsidiary of Rosatom, signed a plant supply contract. The plant should be commissioned by 2024.[9][10]

Investment decision

On 28 February 2014 Voimaosakeyhtiö SF made the final decision to participate in Fennovoima's nuclear power plant construction.[11] The final investment decision would be made in 2014.[10] The ownership was assured in August 2015.[12]

Political impact

As the power plant will generate 10% of Finland's electricity demand and Rosatom owns 34%, this means Rosatom will control 3% of Finland's electricity production according to Veli-Pekka Tynkkynen, professor of Russian energy politics at University of Helsinki.[3] He argued that Russia could use the reactor to for instance manipulate Nordic power prices, or use it as leverage in political disputes as Russia already uses is gas supply in disputes with neighbouring countries such as Ukraine.[3] According to researcher Martin Kragh at Uppsala University in Sweden, Russia has already applied pressure to keep the project going by leveraging Fortum's investments in Russia.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Hanhikivi agreements". World Nuclear News. December 23, 2013. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Rosatom buys into Fennovoima". World Nuclear News. 28 March 2014. Retrieved 29 March 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Sundberg, Marit (8 August 2015). "Forskare varnar för risker med ryskägt kärnkraftverk". Dagens Nyheter. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Two out of three for Finland". World Nuclear News. 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  5. ↑ "Finnish government says yes to TVO and Fennovoima". Nuclear Engineering International (Global Trade Media). 2010-04-21. Retrieved 2010-05-01.
  6. ↑ "Finland approves nuclear power license to Fennovoima". World Construction Industry Network. 2010-05-07. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  7. ↑ Kinnunen, Terhi (2010-07-01). "Finnish parliament agrees plans for two reactors". Reuters. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  8. ↑ Kinnunen, Terhi (2011-10-05). "Finland names 1st nuclear site after Fukushima". Reuters. Retrieved 2011-10-05.
  9. ↑ "Finland's Fennovoima signs reactor deal with Rosatom". Reuters. 21 December 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
  10. 1 2 "Fennovoima and Rusatom Overseas signed plant supply contract" (Press release). Fennovoima. 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  11. ↑ "Finnish firms commit to Fennovoima". World Nuclear News. 28 February 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  12. ↑ http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/C-Finnish-ownership-of-Fennovoima-assured-0508154.html
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