Olkiluodon

Olkiluoto is an island located in the municipality of Eurajoki on the west coast of Finland. It is internationally known as the site of Finland's first nuclear power plant, and later, two additional reactors and a final disposal facility for spent nuclear fuel. The first nuclear power plant, Olkiluoto 1, began operation in 1978, followed by Olkiluoto 2 in 1980. A third reactor, Olkiluoto 3, a European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR), commenced its operational power generation phase in March 2022, after a lengthy construction period. The island also houses the Onkalo spent nuclear fuel repository, which is designed to permanently store high-level radioactive waste deep underground. The geological stability of the Olkiluoto bedrock is considered favorable for such a facility. Posiva Oy, a company owned by Finnish nuclear power producers, is responsible for the operation of the final disposal facility. The presence of the nuclear facilities has made Olkiluoto a significant location in Finland's energy landscape and a subject of international interest in nuclear technology and waste management. The island's history is closely tied to the development and ongoing operation of these prominent industrial installations.