Fortum is applying for a new license for the Loviisa power plant

Press release

Fortum is applying to the Council of State for a license to continue operating the Loviisa nuclear power plant until the end of 2030. By then, 50 years will have elapsed from the time the power plant’s second reactor unit was activated. The current operating license for the Loviisa power plant expires at the end of 2007. Fortum submitted the operating license application to the Ministry of Trade and Industry on Wednesday.

“The power generated annually by Loviisa covers about 10% of the electricity consumption in Finland. That’s why it’s important that the plant continues to safely generate power. We’ve made considerable investments in the Loviisa power plant in recent years. Merely modernising the automation will cost over 100 million euros, and it will ensure that the plant will be able to operate for a long time to come,” says Fortum Senior Vice President Tapio Kuula.

The operating license application for the Loviisa power plant shows, among other things, that the plant’s safety and condition are at a level required by long-term use, nuclear waste disposal has been appropriately organised and the staff is qualified to operate the plant.

The plant’s first unit, which started operation in 1977, and the second unit, which started operation in 1980, have undergone several extensive refurbishment projects that have further improved the plant’s safety. Currently, several extensive modernisation projects are underway, the renovation of the plant’s entire automation being the largest one to date. Several development programs have been planned for the operating license period under application.

A license is required for the generation of nuclear power in Finland, and a periodic license for operating a nuclear power plant must be applied for from the Council of State. The previous license to continue to operate the Loviisa power plant was granted in 1998.

A press conference will be held at the Cafe Port at the Loviisa power plant today at 1 pm.


Fortum Oyj
Corporate Communications


For further information, please contact: Arvo Vuorenmaa, General Manager, Loviisa power plant, tel. 010 455 4000

The Loviisa power plant is Finland’s first nuclear power plant. The power plant has two plant units. These units are pressurised water reactors of the VVER-440 type. The power plant’s combined power output is 976 megawatts, which produces about 8 terawatt hours of electricity annually.