Some official reports announce that the dismantling of Finland’s oldest nuclear reactor has been completed, under planning that cost 24 million euros. This reactor, located in Otaniemi, Espoo, was in operation from 1962 to 2015 and was managed by the VTT Technology Research Center.
The history of the Finnish reactor
The demolition supervised by Markus Airila, senior researcher at VTT, was made possible by a government permit granted in 2021. Since then, the process went smoothly and culminated in April 2024, which is fast by international standards.
During the operation, which lasted less than a year, radioactive waste such as concrete, metal and old protective suits were transferred to the final disposal facility at the Loviisa nuclear power plant. On the other hand, the spent but still usable nuclear fuel The spent but still usable nuclear fuel was shipped to the United States in 2020 for reuse.
The demolition was preceded by a long preparation and permitting phase, which began in 2012 with an environmental impact assessment. The reactor was finally shut down in 2015, which initiated the permitting and design process for the crusher required for its complete decommissioning.
Demolition of the oldest nuclear reactor in Finland
The total cost of 24 million euros includes demolition, and other expenses such as maintenance of used fuel, authority fees, rents and staff salaries. This experience has enabled VTT to gain valuable experience, which is being applied in the decommissioning of a reactor in the Baltic Sea region, the exact location of which has not been disclosed by Airila.
Power plant demolition projects represent a great financial opportunity. Even a small participation in projects that can reach 500 or a billion euros can mean significant income for the entities involved.
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Source and photo: VTT
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