5 Apr (NucNet): Finnish utility Fennovoima said today it had invited Russia’s state nuclear company Rosatom to take part in negotiations for the planned Hanhikivi-1 nuclear reactor project at Pyhäjoki in northern Finland.
The negotiations with Rosatom will start immediately, a statement said.
The company said: “Fennovoima is interested in Rosatom's 1,200-megawatt pressurised water reactor AES-2006. If selected, the design will be updated to meet the newest Finnish safety requirements.”
Fennovoima has also begun talks with Toshiba concerning its 1,600 MW Advanced Boiling Water Reactor (EU-ABWR). Those negotiations began in February 2013.
Fennovoima said in February it had chosen Toshiba to take part in negotiations to build Hanhikivi-1, but left the door open to other bidders should it decide to build a smaller unit instead.
Fennovoima said it had chosen Toshiba as supplier if it goes ahead with original plans for a 1,600 MW reactor, dropping rival candidate Areva and its European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR).
At the time Fennovoima also said it was considering building a medium-sized reactor instead and viewed Toshiba, Areva and Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom as possible suppliers.
The company started to look at other options after its biggest shareholder, German utility E.ON, last year decided to exit the project.
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