Finnish nuclear reactor delayed until 2013

HELSINKI

Finnish utility TVO says the completion the country's fifth nuclear reactor will be further delayed and the company does not expect it to go online until 2013.

TVO says the Areva-Siemens consortium responsible for its construction has said that "most of the work will be completed in 2012" and the plant could begin to produce electricity the following year.

Monday's announcement marks the fifth delay at the site in Olkiluoto, which has been plagued by faulty materials and planning problems since construction began in 2005.

The 1,600-megawatt plant was to be the continent's first European Pressurized Reactor, which are planned to eventually replace aging reactors worldwide.