In March 2011, in the wake of the nuclear power plant accident in Japan, Finland’s Ministry of Employment and the Economy requested the Radiation and Safety Authority Finland (STUK) to carry out an assessment of safety at nuclear power plants in case of a loss of power supply and in case of exceptional weather and environmental conditions. According to STUK’s assessment, no new risks or deficiencies that would require immediate safety improvements were identified in Finnish nuclear power plants. In December 2011, Fortum submitted to STUK the further analyses that were requested on the basis of the safety assessment. Based on the specific safety assessments, safety at the Loviisa power plant has been found to be at a good level also in the safety areas now assessed.
In the wake of the nuclear power plant accident in Japan, also the European Council decided to implement a Europe-wide re-assessment of safety at nuclear power plants. In October, Fortum submitted to STUK a final report regarding the nuclear power plant safety assessments, i.e. the so-called stress tests, within the EU. The stress test carried out for the Loviisa power plant did not introduce any specific new issues that weren’t identified in the safety assessment conducted in spring and submitted to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy. The assessment also addresses preparedness for serious accidents. The safety assessment notes that the design basis of the Loviisa power plant is right and the existing solutions and safety margins are sufficient. In Sweden, the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority has implemented corresponding assessments.
Year 2011:
11 March Fukushima nuclear power plant accident
14 March Ministry of Employment and the Economy requested STUK Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority to assess Finnish nuclear power plants’ preparedness for external threats
Year 2012:
From January to April, an international peer assessment
In June, the Commission’s report to the Council of the European Union