Finland: review of nuclear activities, a clear and steady development

Since the seventies Finland has relied on nuclear energy to meet its growing electricity demand. Today 4 reactors are operating in 2 sites: Loviisa and Olkiluoto. An EPR is being built on the Olkiluoto site. Finland's power production reached 68.7 TWh in 2009 from which 31% stemmed from renewable energies or 63% from energy sources releasing no CO2. The Finnish government has selected 2 companies interested in the construction of new reactors: Fennovoima and TVO. The site for the disposal in deep geological layers of spent fuels is being built by Posiva at Onkalo. It will be put into service in 2020. The technology used is similar to that of the swedish KBS system: welded copper containers put in granite cavities. (A.C.)