Electric utilities make preparations for sixth nuclear reactor

Clear majority of new MPs want more nuclear power

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Both of Finland’s electric utilities that operate commercial nuclear power plants said on Wednesday that they plan to begin preparations for the construction of a sixth facility in Finland. A fifth commercial reactor is being built in Olkiluoto on the west coast of Finland, the location of two of Finland’s four existing reactors.
      Fortum is looking into the environmental impact of building a third reactor at the Loviisa plant on the south coast, and TVO is examining the impact of a fourth reactor in Olkiluoto.
      Under the quickest scenarios, construction could begin early in the next decade, and the sixth reactor could be operational in 2017 or 2018.
      The companies say that the planning of a new reactor is necessary now, because the need for more energy generating capacity will reach a peak in ten years.
     
The new nuclear power project does not come as much of a surprise; TVO was said to be planning an environmental impact study already in January.
      Business interests have also been calling for more nuclear power, and in the runup to the recent Parliamentary elections, all large parties said that they were taking at least a cautiously positive view of a new plant.
      Supporters of more nuclear energy cite the increased demand for energy and the need to reduce emissions of gases that contribute to global warming.
     
On the basis of responses to the on-line candidate selection engine of Helsingin Sanomat during the Parliamentary election campaign, a clear majority of those who were later elected to the new Parliament felt that Finland should build a sixth nuclear reactor.
      Before the election, 55.5 per cent of those elected to Parliament indicated in their answers to the engine that they are either completely, or somewhat in favour of more nuclear construction, while 38.5 per cent were completely, or somewhat opposed. Six per cent did not give responses to the selection engine.
      Of the likely government parties, all 50 National Coalition Party Parliamentarians support more nuclear energy. Among Centre Party MPs supporters of nuclear energy outnumber opponents 25 to 20; six successful Centre Party candidates did not respond to the selection engine.
      Centre Party Chairman Matti Vanhanen disagrees somewhat with the idea of building a sixth reactor, while National Coalition Party chairman Jyrki Katainen is fully in favour. Swedish People’s Party leader Stefan Wallin agrees somewhat.
      Green MPs are opposed to more nuclear energy. Party leader Tarja Cronberg said that the energy companies’ Wednesday announcement will not affect the Greens’ position on the government talks, because the plans were known.
      Cronberg said that the timing of the announcement was a clear message, and an attempt to influence government formation talks. She said that she could not say if the aim was to weaken the Greens’ position in the talks. "Naturally, one might suspect that", she pointed out.
     
Anneli Nikula, manager of issues of social responsibility for TVO, admitted that launching the projects while government formation talks are going on is meant to be a message to the future government.
      "Already the previous Parliament drew up an energy strategy, which noted that no emission-free alternative should be ruled out. It is unlikely that the future government will disagree, but this is nevertheless a powerful signal of hope for the industry", Nikula said.
      Environmental organisations opposed to more nuclear energy found the timing of the announcement to be suspicious. Greenpeace said that TVO and Fortum are trying to dictate the contents of the upcoming government’s policy programme, and to downplay the importance of Parliament in energy policy.
     
TVO is currently building a fifth commercial reactor in Olkiluoto. The project has been plagued by construction delays. Currently the installation is expected to be ready in 2011.
      The state-owned Fortum holds over a quarter of TVO’s shares. The largest holder of TVO stock is Pohjolan Voima, which is in the hands of large Finnish forest companies.
      The assessment of a new reactor’s likely environmental impact involves a round of comments in which the views of various ministries, officials, and organisations are assessed. Ordinary citizens will also be given the opportunity to express their views to the Ministry of Trade and Industry.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Finnish President sees nuclear power as "a short-term medicine" (12.2.2007)
  President Halonen: Kyoto Treaty increases use of nuclear energy (23.1.2007)

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