YLE: Serious Shortcomings at Olkiluoto Nuclear Site

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Serious shortcomings exist on the construction site of the new Olkiluoto nuclear reactor.

According to YLE current affairs programme, welding work has been carried out on the site without proper supervision. Neither has there been a qualified manager on site to direct the welding work for several months.

A qualified manager with responsibility for welding work must be on site at nuclear reactor construction site in order to meet with international standards.

The French company Bouygues gave the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority the names of two welding co-ordinators. However, it turned out they were unqualified.

Welding work started at the site in the spring of 2005. However, the first welding regulations were only approved in the autumn of 2006.

The Minister with responsibility for the project supervision Mauri Pekkarinen has demanded an explanation on the matter from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.

Posted in |