Nuclear industry revival hits roadblocks

from New Scientist, 30 June 2007

The much-heralded nuclear renaissance is running into trouble - and it's not the solution to climate change. That, at least, is the view from Finland, where a French-German consortium is building Europe's first new nuclear power station since 1991.

Construction of the European Pressurised Water Reactor at Olkiluoto on the Baltic coast started in August 2005, but it is now 18 months behind schedule and some €700 million over-budget. A long series of safety "deficiencies" in manufacturing and design of the new-style reactor have been uncovered by the Finnish nuclear regulator, STUK.

The suggestion that Finland is leading a global nuclear comeback is no more than "hype", according to Jorma Aurela, a senior energy official in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. "I always want to put some ice cubes in the hats of those who talk about a nuclear renaissance," he told New Scientist. "Nuclear power has its role, but it is not going to be the answer to climate change."

The Finnish government is divided on nuclear power, with the Environment Minister, Paula Lehtomäki, describing it as "really not environmentally-friendly energy". She would prefer to develop renewable energy sources, like biomass from Finland's extensive forests.

TVO, the Finnish company which ordered the new reactor, is unhappy about the delay, and is expecting to receive millions of Euros in compensation. The reactor, currently the favourite to be built in the UK, is not now due to begin commercial operation until 2011.