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by weinzierl 764 days ago
There is also Angra III in Brasil which has a similar history but with completely different outcome. The plant was bought from Germany in 1985 and then stored for a quarter of a century. Some parts were kept in nitrogen to prevent corrosion.

But contrary to Zwentendorf and Kalkar the project was rebooted (in several attempts) and is currently scheduled to be finished in 2028.

The early nuclear power plants were all individually designed and custom built, before commercial power plants were standardized. The German standard plants are called Konvoi and the individual builds Pre-Konvoi.

Currently Angra II is the only Pre-Konvoi plant still in operation in the whole world. If Angra III goes online, it will be a quarter of a century after the last Pre-Konvoi plant (Angra II) and more than half a century after all the others.

1 comments

In Finland where I'm from the Olkiluoto III nuclear plant was delayed multiple times and ended up being 9th most expensive building in the world (excluding military bases which we don't have public records):

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_most_expensive_build...

I'm highly skeptical of the schedules and since it's so old equipment I would be very surprised if it will be in budget and start when scheduled. Anyway I hope it works out.

It is a good job the station's Finnish owner/operator, TVO, got it on a fixed price contract. That does not make coping with the delays in coming online any easier, but some consolation that someone else is footing the construction bill and enriching the local economy.

This is, to some extent, the same as Hinkley Point C where EDF and CGN have got a long term strike price. I wait with interest to see how Sizewell C will be financed, be it the regulated asset base model or else a Contract For Difference.

There is a good argument for cost-plus construction contracts provided the purchaser can financially cope with the risks. Risk transfer is never free!

> someone else

Indeed. That would be French taxpayers.

EDF has only recently become fully state owned. Also the French state have recently amended the ARENH arrangement to get greater revenues (who knew selling options for 42 EUR/MWh was a bad idea). Greater losses and damages have been incurred by previous governments.

https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Agreement-on-pos...