The much-touted resurgence of the European nuclear industry, promoted as a local solution to climate change, is already running into trouble.
Construction of Europe鈥檚 first new nuclear power station since 1991 鈥� the European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR) at Olkiluoto, Finland 鈥� started in August 2005.
Now the Finnish nuclear regulator, STUK, has uncovered a series of safety 鈥渄eficiencies鈥� in the new-style plant鈥檚 manufacture and design. This setback has already caused it to fall 18 months behind schedule and about 芒聜卢700 million over budget.
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The idea that nuclear power is making a comeback globally and that Finland is at the forefront of this revival is no more than 鈥渉ype鈥�, according to Jorma Aurela, a senior energy official in the Ministry of Trade and Industry. 鈥淚 always want to put ice cubes in the hats of those who talk about a nuclear renaissance,鈥� he says. 鈥淣uclear power has its role, but it is not the answer to climate change.鈥�
The EPR is not scheduled to operate commercially before 2011. It represents the favoured design for future reactors in the UK.
