Antti Yrjönen is a Helsinki-based photojournalist with a focus on news, politics and sports.
+358 443 456 894 antti@anttiy.co
Olkiluoto 3 and Onkalo Spent Nuclear Fuel Repository in Pictures
I visited the Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant twice last year, on February and again on August. On August I also had the chance to visit Onkalo – the future site for the final disposal of radioactive waste.
The Olkiluoto plant currently consists of two Boiling Water Reactors, but a third reactor has been under construction since 2005. Olkiluoto 3 is an AREVA-developed European Pressurised Reactor (EPR). The start of commercial operation was originally planned for 2010, but the project is delayed and as of April 2018, the estimate for start of regular production is May 2019. Olkiluoto 3 is set to become Finland’s largest nuclear unit and provide about 10 percent of the country’s power needs.
The Olkiluoto plant is located on Olkiluoto Island on the shore of the Gulf of Bothnia in western Finland. It is owned and operated by Teollisuuden Voima (TVO), a subsidiary of Pohjolan Voima.
The Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 9 February 2017. The Unit 3 that is under construction is on the left.
TVO’s Head of Communications Pasi Tuohimaa in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, Finland on 9 February 2017.
A security person monitors media representatives in front of the Olkiluoto 3 reactor building at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
TVO’s Public Relations and Responsibility Manager Juha Poikola in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, Finland on 9 February 2017.
TVO’s Head of Communications Pasi Tuohimaa being interviewed by Yle in the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant control room in Eurajoki, Finland on 9 February 2017.
The Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant control room in Eurajoki, Finland on 9 February 2017.
A Gotech employee at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
The nuclear reaction chamber seen through the service gate of the OL3 reactor (OL3 EPR) inside the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
A bridge crane in the reactor hall at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
The reactor hall at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
TVO’s Manager of Public Relations Juha Poikola leads a group of media representatives at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
Workers at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
Fire Protection Leader Kari Hakala at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
Employee at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
TVO’s Senior Vice President Risto Siilos in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, Finland on 9 February 2017.
Construction work in Posiva’s spent nuclear fuel repository Onkalo in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
The access tunnel of Posiva’s spent nuclear fuel repository Onkalo in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
A worker in a demonstration tunnel approximately 420 meters underground at Posiva’s spent nuclear fuel repository Onkalo in Eurajoki on 17 August 2017.
The demonstration tunnel approximately 420 meters underground in Posiva’s spent nuclear fuel repository Onkalo in Eurajoki on 17 August 2017.
A nuclear waste deposition hole in the demonstration tunnel in the spent nuclear fuel repository Onkalo in Eurajoki on 17 August 2017.
Representatives of TVO, Posiva and media in a demonstration tunnel approximately 420 meters underground at Posiva’s spent nuclear fuel repository Onkalo in Eurajoki on 17 August 2017.
Emergency exit 290 meters underground at Posiva’s spent nuclear fuel repository Onkalo in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
TVO’s Senior Vice President Risto Siilos in Olkiluoto, Eurajoki, Finland on 9 February 2017.
TVO’s Head of Communications Pasi Tuohimaa in Olkiluoto on 9 February 2017.
High-voltage power lines at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017.
Transformers and connections at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in Eurajoki, Finland on 17 August 2017. The Olkiluoto nuclear power plant currently produces about one sixth of all electricity consumed in Finland.
Olkiluoto 3 Project Director Jouni Silvennoinen gazes at the construction site of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant in Eurajoki on 17 August 2017.
Text and photos: Antti Yrjönen If you want to license a photo for editorial use, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
