Fortum applies for an operating licence for LO1 and LO2 plant units until 2050

NordenBladet — On 18 March 2017, Fortum Power and Heat Oy submitted to the Government an application for an operating licence for its nuclear power plant units Loviisa 1 (LO1) and Loviisa 2 (LO2), in accordance with the Nuclear Energy Act. The operating licence would allow energy production at the units until the end of 2050 and, as required by preparations for their decommissioning, until the end of 2055. The current operating licences of the units are valid until 2027 and 2030.The company also applied for an operating licence for a final disposal facility for low and intermediate level nuclear waste located in the Loviisa power plant area until the end of 2090. The Loviisa nuclear power plant is Finland’s first nuclear power plant. Its two power plant units began production in 1977 and 1980. The power plant units are pressurised water reactors of type VVER-440. After an increase to power output, the output of both reactors exceeds 500 MW. The plant’s annual production is more than eight terawatt hours, which accounts for about 10% of Finland’s annual electricity production.The processing of operating licence applications includes a statutory consultation procedure, which will be announced in April. At that time, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment will request statements from several authorities, organisations and municipalities in the affected area, and provide citizens and communities with an opportunity to express their opinions. Statements can be submitted by 12 August 2022 via the Lausuntopalvelu.fi service and other means. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment submitted its informed conclusion on EIA report on continued use of Loviisa nuclear power plant on 14 January 2022. The conclusion ended the environmental impact assessment process of the project, which also included an international assessment as part of the Espoo Convention.