Pekkarinen sets timetable for nuclear decision

Proposal to go before Parliament in April

Mauri Pekkarinen

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Parliament can expect to get a chance to debate licence applications for the construction of new nuclear reactors in just over four weeks at the earliest. Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen (Centre Party) says that this is the amount of time that he has scheduled for negotiations among the various government parties.
      According to this plan, Parliament can expect to get a proposal on the matter in early April after the Easter holidays.
      Pekkarinen says that the schedule is a goal that he has set himself, which he hopes will hold. The timetable might slip, if differences among the government parties on what proposal should be submitted to Parliament prove to be too deep for a compromise.
     
Of the largest government groups, the National Coalition Party has would be willing to grant a licence to all three applicants. The Centre Party has not given a clear stand, but Pekkarinen has spoken of a need for one licence.
      The Greens oppose the construction of any nuclear facilities in addition to the four that are in operation and the fifth that is under construction; when the government was formed, the Greens were granted special dispensation to stick to their views if the nuclear issue comes up. It is clear that the government will not reach consensus on the matter.
     
Pekkarinen is the minister responsible for putting the matter before the government. A draft for an operating licence for a new nuclear reactor is being prepared at the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.
      The ministry had not expected to be working on the matter yet, but a decision by the Supreme Administrative Court rejecting complaints against two proposed sites for new nuclear plants came earlier than expected.
      “When the court’s decision came at the end of last week, I said that five weeks can be spent at the ministry and in the government on decision making. This is how we are moving ahead”, Pekkarinen says.
     
Pekkarinen has promised that when an agreement is reached among the main government parties, the scope of the discussions will be expanded. At that point he will hold talks with parliamentary groups, including opposition parties.
      He is careful not to take a stand on the number of licences to be granted at this stage. He says that the matter is to be prepared at the ministry according to the standard formula.
      “At first, we will determine the need for electricity, and then what is available. Finally we will see what more we need and how much.”
      Pekkarinen has also ordered “radio silence” over the ministry, and concentrated outside communications on himself.
     
Under Finnish law, Parliament decides on licences for commercial nuclear reactors.
      Each licence must be handled separately, and the proposals for licences must be either accepted or rejected as such; they cannot be altered or amended by Parliament.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Pekkarinen´s comments on nuclear power take ministry and Fennovoima by surprise (25.4.2008)
  Nuclear plant application to come before Parliament this spring (1.3.2010)
  Concrete coverups and others at nuclear construction site (31.1.2010)
  Fortum enters nuclear energy race (6.2.2009)

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