Bouygues goes nuclear in Finland

Bouygues has won a contract worth over a € 100 million to construct the buildings to house Finland's new nuclear reactor. Under the agreement with plant supplier Framatome ANP, Bouygues Travaux Publics will also build four annexe buildings and a spent fuel storage facility at the site in Olkiluoto.

Once complete, the buildings will house a European Pressurised Water Reactor (EPR) with an electricity generating capacity of approximately 1600 MW. The reactor at Olkiluoto will be the first of a new generation of EPRs, which are to be built to strict safety and security standards.

The buildings will be formed by massive concrete shells, specially designed for the scheme, that are capable of resisting the impact of a commercial aircraft.

Construction at the site on Finland's west coast, 200 km from Helsinki, is due to start early this summer and is scheduled to take three years to complete. The facility, which is being funded by Finish electricity supplier Teollisuuden Voima Oy, is due to come on line by 2009. The total cost of the project is estimated to be around € 300 million, making it one of the largest construction projects ever undertaken in Finland.

According the Bouygues, the company won the contract, following an international call for tenders, based on its experience gained during the construction of other nuclear power facilities in France. Bouygues was involved in the construction of nuclear power units at Bugey, Saint-Alban and Chooz, and is currently working on the Andra Underground Laboratory at Bure.