Major investments in nuclear energy
19.10.2008
Sweden's nuclear power plants went online around 30 years ago, and are today in need of considerable modernisation with regard to safety, availability and increased production. For example, OKG (Oskarshamn) with three nuclear reactors has since the early 1990s invested a total of more than 15,000 mSEK in modernisation and raising output. By the end of 2011, measures implemented at OKG will enable an aggregate total of 60 years' operation at the plants.
These infrastructure investments in Sweden provide jobs for the main contractor who then procures specialised services from companies such as Havator. The power plants Ringhals and Forsmark, owned by Vattenfall, are now making investments similar to those by OKG. In 2011, Ringhals is completing a 10-year investment programme amounting to 13,000 mSEK. In the case of Forsmark Power Plant, it is a matter of 10,000 mSEK over 10 years.
Among other things, the investments are made to increase output by replacing wearing parts (turbines, generators), and systems for safety upgrades and the environment to meet new specifications on access control and physical security regarding vehicles, personnel, etc. In Forsmark, for example, the power output will increase from 25 to 28 Twh.
For the Nordic company Havator AB, this sector of the infrastructure is bringing many business opportunities through turnkey solutions in transport, heavy lifts and assembly. Today, Wednesday, Havator completed the first phase of its assignment in Oskarshamn, which is a good illustration of the company's business concept that includes planning, lifting and transport. The customer has been Power Alstom Sweden, which also hired Havator for a larger project at Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant. It was completed in 2005, and at the same time Alstom made an enquiry about this assignment at OKG.
Havator Transport (Tampere, Finland), led by project manager Terho Isola, joined the planning team at an early stage and offered Alstom an overall solution for "site logistics". After planning and long negotiations, a contract for the assignment was signed, and work began in April this year. In Tampere a lift plan was drawn up and the practical preparations began to organise peripheral equipment such as supports, beams, etc.
The different components for OKG were shipped from Antwerp to Simpevarp Harbour on board the Norwegian vessel Elektron II. Havator was responsible for unloading, transport to site and lifts during pre-assembly. In the project, Havator Transport in Tampere collaborated with the Gothenburg/Norrköping depots which provided two on-site cranes (500 and 100-tons) as complements to two SPMT vehicles, a telescopic lift and truck with Hiab crane. Part two of the project is an audit which is due to be carried out later.
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