Mochovce nuclear power plant (source: SME)
The completion of the third and fourth block of the nuclear power plant in Mochovce (Nitra Region) might be delayed again.
Slovak Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini, who strictly rejects such an option, is planning to visit the nuclear power plant soon.
“I have to say that the declared schedules have not been met several times and the construction milestones have been postponed to later deadlines,” Pellegrini said at the European Nuclear Forum, as quoted by the SITA newswire. “The certain number of reported arrears of work raises concerns and this time also questions whether the declared date of putting the third block into operation this November is real.”
This is the reason why he plans to visit Mochovce and hear the explanations of why the delays are occuring, in which security state the construction is and when the third block will be put into operation, the prime minister continued.
The constructor insists on the plans
The current data indicate that the third nuclear block in Mochovce is 97 percent complete. In late January, the completion was at 96.2 percent. The fourth nuclear block has 85.1 percent completion.
According to the schedule, the third block is expected to be put into operation at the end of this year, and the fourth one year later, SITA wrote.
The constructor, energy generator Slovenské Elektrárne, says that the current schedule and expected budget approved in March 2017 is still valid.
“Slovenské Elektrárne is doing the maximum to minimise risks that might emerge during tests and their impact on the schedule,” said the company’s spokesperson Miroslav Šarišský, as quoted by SITA. “First of all, we want to secure the highest level of reliability and security that take precedence over the other factors.”
While at the third block cold hydro testing and hot hydro testing were completed, the fuel rods were installed in the reactor and the physical launch took place, on the fourth block the works on some technology units, cabling and control systems are competed, Šarišský added.
Both deadlines and budget have changed
The third and fourth nuclear blocks at Mochovce were originally expected to be completed in 2012 and 2013, respectively. Apart from the dates, the budget has also changed several times. The latest budget predicts the works will cost €5.4 billion, up from the original €2.8 billion.
Slovenské Elektrárne launched the completion of the Mochovce nuclear power plant in November 2008.
In early June 2009, officially signed contracts with the main suppliers of the construction works: the Czech company Škoda Jaderné Strojírenství, Russian company Atomstrojexport (which has meanwhile withdrawn from the construction works), and Slovak companies VUJE, Enseco, Inžinierske Stavby Košice (which has meanwhile withdrawn from the construction works as well), and Italian company Enel Ingegneria & Innovazione.
After completion, the new nuclear blocks will have an installed capacity of 471 MW each, which will cover 13 percent of the total electricity consumption in Slovakia, SITA reported.
