Helsinki, 11 January 2024
On 5 January 2024, Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment received from Teollisuuden Voima Oyj an environmental impact assessment (EIA) programme referred to in the Act on the Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure. The programme concerns extending the service life of Olkiluoto 1 and Olkiluoto 2 nuclear power plant units located in the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant area in Eurajoki as well as increasing their thermal output.
The extension of the current use until 2048 or 2058 would mean that the service life would increase to 70 or 80 years. Olkiluoto 1 and Olkiluoto 2 plant units were put into service in 1978 and 1980, respectively. The service life originally planned for the units was 40 years, but it was previously extended to 60 years. The thermal output of plant units would increase from the current 2,500 megawatts (MW) to 2,750 MW.
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) programme refers to a plan for the necessary studies and arrangements for the assessment procedure. The programme is prepared by the operator in charge of the project. The coordinating authority for the EIA procedure is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
The Ministry will request comments on the EIA programme and provide citizens and organisations an opportunity to express their opinions later in January.