Fortum’s annual outage 2016 at Loviisa nuclear power plant completed
FORTUM CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 11 October 2016
Both units at Fortum’s Loviisa nuclear power plant are back in production after
their annual maintenance outages. The annual outage of Unit 1 lasted nearly 38
days, until 14 September 2016, and the maintenance outage of Unit 2 lasted
approximately 20 days, until 7 October and was completed 3 days ahead of
schedule. The duration of the annual outage of Unit 1 was prolonged by about 5
days due to repair of the refuelling machine.
This year Unit 1 underwent the extensive inspection outage performed every 4
years and Unit 2 the short annual outage. In conjunction with the annual
outages, about one quarter of the fuel in both units was replaced.
In addition to the normal scheduled maintenance and fuel reloading, the
turbine's high-pressure housings were renewed, main transformers and generator
breakers replaced as well as work related to the steam generators at both units
performed. At Unit 1, also two reheaters were replaced. At Unit 2, a major
overhaul of stator and replacement of generator rotor was carried out.
“During this years’ outage, the first stage of automation modernisation
project, launched in 2014, was carried out. The project implements key safety
system improvements at Loviisa power plant. In the modernisation project, old
analogue automation technology will be replaced by digital automation system
technology. The work will be carried out in phases during the annual outages so
that it doesn’t disrupt the normal operations of the plant. The safety-related
system of both plants will be renewed during 2016-2018. The automation upgrade
of the Loviisa power plant will ensure safe and economical operation of the
plant to the end of its existing operating licenses,” says Anssi Laakso,
Manager, Plant Lifetime Management and Maintenance unit.
Good results have been achieved in the long-term development efforts to lower
the radiation levels at the plant during the annual outage. Thanks to the
continuous development work, the collective radiation doses for personnel
during annual outage at Unit 1 were the lowest in the plant’s history and among
the lowest for Unit 2 compared to similar types of outages.
“Several challenging projects were implemented at both plants and the
implementation process required careful planning. Overall, the work went
smoothly, and no major incidents endangering personnel or plant safety
occurred,” Laakso continues.
A total of some 950 external employees participated in the Loviisa power
plant’s annual outage that started in August and in ongoing modernisation
projects. About 80 per cent of the workers were Finnish subcontractors. There
are approximately 500 Fortum employees and some 100 permanent contractors
working at the Loviisa power plant year round.
Fortum Corporation
Group Communications
More information:
Anssi Laakso, Manager, Plant lifetime management and Maintenance unit, tel.
+358 10 455 4063
Loviisa power plant
In 2015, the load factor at Fortum’s fully-owned Loviisa nuclear power plant
was 92.9%. On an international scale, the load factor was among the best in the
world for pressurised water reactor power plants. The plant produced a total of
8.47 terawatt hours, which is approximately 13% of Finland’s total electricity
production. The Loviisa power plant employs approximately 500 Fortum employees
and 100 permanent contractors. In 2015, Fortum invested EUR 80 million into the
Loviisa nuclear power plant.
Fortum
Fortum’s vision is to be the forerunner in clean energy. We provide our
customers with electricity, heat and cooling as well as other energy solutions
that improve present and future life. Already 64% of our electricity generation
is CO2 free. Our main markets are the Nordic and the Baltic countries, Russia,
Poland and India. In 2015, we employed some 8,000 energy sector professionals,
and our sales were EUR 3.5 billion. Fortum’s share is listed on Nasdaq
Helsinki. www.fortum.com