Annual Maintenance Begins at Loviisa Nuclear Power Plant
The annual maintenance outage at Fortum’s Loviisa nuclear power plant will commence this Sunday, with Unit 2 scheduled for servicing first, followed by Unit 1. The outages are expected to continue until mid-October, with one reactor unit remaining operational at all times to ensure continuous electricity production (Yle).
This year’s maintenance cycle includes a comprehensive eight-year inspection for Unit 2, which involves removing fuel from the reactor for inspections of the reactor pressure vessel, a pressure test, and the replacement of a quarter of the fuel. Unit 1 will undergo a shorter annual outage, focusing on fuel replacement and routine maintenance tasks (Daily Finland).
Sasu Valkamo, Senior Vice President of the Loviisa power plant, emphasized the facility’s role in Finland’s energy security. "The Loviisa power plant plays an important role in ensuring the reliability of Finland’s electricity supply. A systematically implemented annual outage will again ensure uninterrupted electricity production for the coming year," he stated (Daily Finland).
In addition to Fortum’s permanent staff, approximately 1,000 external workers from contractor companies will participate in the maintenance work. The outage will also include several modernization projects aimed at extending the plant’s operational lifespan. Key upgrades include the modernization of low-pressure turbines, renewal of turbine automation, and replacement of the main seawater pumps. In total, more than ten major projects are planned (Yle, Daily Finland).
The Loviisa plant’s two units hold operating licenses valid until the end of 2050. To maintain stable and safe operations, Fortum estimates that investments of up to €1 billion will be required over the coming decades (Daily Finland).
