
The new-generation nuclear reactor Olkiluoto 3 - Europe's largest - was fully operational on Sunday in Finland, hours after Germany ended the nuclear reactor era.
Olkiluoto 3, which now produces about 14 percent of the state's electricity, is expected to operate for "at least the next 60 years," according to the reactor's operator, TVO.
The authorities have been pressing for the reactor to be put into operation since December, but the operation has been postponed several times in the test phases.
The reactor was built by the Areva-Siemens consortium, in the direction of the French, while work on it started in 2005.
"The testing phase has been completed and the regular production of electricity has started today", said TVO.
The operator TVO has considered the Olkiluoto 3 reactor as "Finland's biggest climate act", which will speed the way towards creating a carbon neutral society./REL