On Tuesday, a YLE current affairs programme reported that welding work at the site had been carried out without proper supervision or a qualified manager. Greenpeace says the unsupervised welding work has been going on for months. It says it has documents to prove it.
"Breaking safety codes when building nuclear reactors could have catastrophic consequences. Construction must be halted immediately and the site must undergo an independent, international inspection," says Lauri Myllyvirta of Greenpeace Finland.
Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen, who is responsible for supervising the project, has demanded an explanation on the matter from the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority.
STUK: No Reason for Concern Petteri Tiippanen of the STUK insists that the foundation of the reactor has been built according to specifications. The authority admits, however, that it is unaware of how the contractor had monitored the construction of the foundation during two months in the past winter. Now it plans to ascertain how the French company Bouygues has supervised the construction of the foundations. YLE YLE: Serious Shortcomings at Olkiluoto Nuclear Site