FORTUM CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 18 September 2015
Both units at Fortum's Loviisa nuclear power plant are back in production after their annual maintenance outages. Unit 1 was down for 21 days until 30 August 2015, and Unit 2 for approximately 16 days until 15 September. The planned duration of Loviisa 1 outage was exceeded by 3 working days due to hydrogen generator leak repairs and replacement of the turbine reheaters.
This year both Units underwent a so-called short outage during which one quarter of the fuel in both units was be replaced.
At Loviisa 2, the most significant outage work, besides the normal scheduled maintenance and fuel replacement, consisted of activity measurement of turbine steam lines and the replacement of an emergency diesel generator to an overhauled motor.
“During this summer’s annual outage we began the modernisation of the power plant’s turbine reheaters which improve the reliability of the secondary circuit as well as the efficiency of the power plant,” says Pertti Salonen, Manager of Loviisa power plant’s Maintenance Unit.
We are getting good results on our long-term development work to lower the radiation levels for the personnel during the annual outage at both power plant units. During this years' annual outage, the radiation levels were the lowest in the history of the power plant at Loviisa 1 and Loviisa 2 among the lowest.
"The annual outages as a whole were carried out safely, according to plan and schedule and no major incidents endangering personnel or plant safety occured," explains Timo Eurasto, Manager of Operations Unit at Loviisa power plant.
A total of 750 external contractors are involved in the Loviisa power plant’s annual outage and ongoing modernisation projects. About 90 per cent of the workers are of Finnish origin. There are approximately 500 Fortum employees and some 100 permanent contractors working at the Loviisa power plant.
Fortum Corporation
Corporate Communications
Further information:
Pertti Salonen, Manager, Maintenance Unit, tel. +358 10 455 3100
Timo Eurasto, Manager, Operations Unit, tel. +358 10 455 4010
Background information for journalists:
In 2014, the load factor at Fortum’s fully-owned Loviisa nuclear power plant was 90.9%. On an international scale, this was excellent: the worldwide load factor for pressurised water power plants last year was approximately 84%. The plant produced a total of 7.88 terawatt hours, which is approximately 12% of Finland’s total electricity production. The Loviisa power plant employs approximately 600 employees directly. In 2014, Fortum invested EUR 80 million into the Loviisa nuclear power plant.
Fortum
Fortum’s purpose is to create energy that improves life for present and future generations. Fortum’s expertise is in CO2-free and efficient electricity and heat production. The company also offers energy-related products and expert services to private and industrial customers and energy producers. Fortum’s main areas of operation are the Nordic and the Baltic countries, Russia and Poland. In 2014, the annual sales (excluding the divested electricity distribution business) totalled EUR 4.1 billion, and comparable operating profit was EUR 1.1 billion. The company employs approximately 8,000 people. Fortum’s share is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.fortum.com