Greenpeace denounces Finland's nuclear energy programme

Finland seen as poster child of nuclear power

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As delays continue to plague the construction of a new nuclear reactor in Olkiluoto, opponents of nuclear energy note that Finnish politicians and other powerful figures are dreaming of up to two more nuclear facilities.
      Finland’s pro-nuclear stance, which is seen as unique in rich countries, is making Finland a poster child of sorts for the international nuclear industry, and a destination for nuclear power tourism. It is also made Finland the target of an intense campaign by Greenpeace.
     
The goal of Greenpeace is is to prevent the construction of more nuclear reactors in Finland. This is a daunting task.The organisation’s new Secretary-General for the Nordic region, Mads Flarup Christensen, 35, says that in nuclear questions, Finland has put up “a wall of denial”.
     “The economic arguments in behalf of nuclear power have largely disappeared, but Finland suffers from tunnel vision. It seems that there is a desire to build nuclear power at any price”, Christensen says.
     The Danish Parliament decided in late August that by 2012 the world’s largest wind generator, with an output of 400 megawatts, would be built in the Kattegat.
     Christensen says that the best wind power projects are turning out to be cheaper than the nuclear reactor in Olkiluoto. The output of Olkiluoto 3 will be 1600 megawatts.
     
To reach its goal Greenpeace plans to lobby decision-makers, take direct action, and investigate. For instance, in the summer Greenpeace publicly reported that there were problems with the welding of the metal framework of concrete reinforcement. It also said that building site supervision was incompetently handled.
     In August, the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) said that it did not find any significant shortcomings in the construction.
     Christensen says that Finland’s nuclear-driven energy policy is a model example of old-fashioned policy defined by national borders. He feels that the Nordic Countries should adopt a common energy policy. Christensen would also like to turn the Nordic region into a model area in reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
     “The Nordic Countries have a moral duty to do this, because the area is one of the world’s richest and most advanced. The Nordic Countries are also relatively large per capita producers of carbon dioxide emissions.”
     “In Finland, per capita electricity consumption is growing.” According to figures put out by Greenpeace, one Finn consumes an average 17.3 megawatt hours of electricity per person each year. In Denmark, the figure is 6.2 megawatt hours.
     The large consumption figures in Finland are attributed to the forest industry.
     
Christensen says that Greenpeace's strength is in bringing the global point of view to local issues.
     This is what the organisation has done in its other major Finnish campaign target - the forest industry. Greenpeace has been especially critical of tree felling in Finnish Lapland.
     Greenpeace has also opposed plans by the oil company Neste to use tropical palm oil in the production of biological fuel.
     Christensen says that Greenpeace plans to increase its activities in Finland.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Study finds EU goal of 60 per cent cut greenhouse emissions to be attainable for Finland (8.9.2008)
  Major boom in wind power projects (30.8.2008)
  Greenpeace calls for suspension of construction on new nuclear reactor and safety review (14.8.2008)
  Neste filling station closed by anti-palm oil demonstration (8.5.2008)

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