FORTUM CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 2.10.2023
Both units at Fortum’s Loviisa nuclear power plant are back in production after completion of their annual outages. This year, both units underwent the short refuelling outage. The annual outage of Unit 2 was completed on 7.9.2023 and Unit 1 on 1.10.2023.
“In conjunction with the annual outage of Unit 1, a faulty seawater pump motor was replaced, and the servicing work on Unit 2’s second turbine line continued still after the annual outage,” says Sasu Valkamo, Senior Vice President of Loviisa nuclear power plant.
During the annual outages, about a quarter of the fuel in both plant units was replaced. In addition to the normal periodic maintenance work and refuelling, tasks related to maintenance and continuous improvement were carried out on both units during the annual outages.
“This year, a test assembly manufactured by Westinghouse was loaded into the reactor; the test assembly doesn’t contain the actual nuclear uranium pellets. We are pursuing mechanical operating experiences with the new fuel type,” says Valkamo.
Fortum and Westinghouse Electric Company signed an agreement in November 2022 for the design and supply of a new fuel type for the Loviisa power plant.
Fortum Corporation
Communications
Sasu Valkamo, Senior Vice President, Loviisa nuclear power plant
Media contacts: Mia Willberg, Communications Manager, mia [dot] willberg [at] fortum [dot] com, tel. +358 40 777 5989
Loviisa nuclear power plant
In 2022, the load factor at Fortum’s fully owned Loviisa nuclear power plant was 89.4%. The continuous development and modernisation of the power plant enable load factors that are among the best for pressurised water reactors on an international scale. During the past five years Fortum’s investments in the Loviisa power plant have totalled about EUR 273 million. In 2022, the power plant produced a total of 7.9 terawatt hours (net) of electricity, which is more than 10% of Finland’s electricity production. Of Fortum’s approximately 700 nuclear sector professionals, about 550 work at the Loviisa power plant. Additionally, nearly 100 permanent employees of other companies work in the power plant area every day. More information: www.fortum.com/loviisa
FortumFortum is a Nordic energy company. Our purpose is to power a world where people, businesses and nature thrive together. We are one of the cleanest energy producers in Europe and our actions are guided by our ambitious environmental targets. We generate and deliver clean energy reliably and help industries to decarbonise their processes and grow. Our core operations in the Nordics comprise of efficient, CO2-free power generation as well as reliable supply of electricity and district heat to private and business customers. For our ~5 000 employees, we commit to be a safe, and inspiring workplace. Fortum’s share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. fortum.com