Widespread uncertainty in Parliament over nuclear construction

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Parliamentarians of both the Centre Party and the opposition Social Democratic Party are sharply divided over the issue of nuclear energy.
      Among the Social Democrats there are Members of Parliament who would like to grant authorisation for the construction of a nuclear facility to all three applicants - Fortum, TVO, and Fennovoima. On the other hand, many SDP MPs are opposed to authorising any more nuclear construction.
     
In a survey conducted by Helsingin Sanomat this week, Members of Parliament were asked for their views on nuclear energy.
      The MPs were asked if they felt that one, two, or three licences should be granted, or if they felt that no more nuclear facilities should be built at this stage.
      A total of 125 of Finland’s 200 Members of Parliament were reached for the survey.
     
Even the mainly pro-nuclear Centre Party has MPs who do not want any more commercial nuclear reactors in Finland beyond the four that are in operation and the fifth that is currently being built at Olkiluoto.
      One of them, Timo Kaunisto, who is in the race for the Centre Party chair, is the leader of the network in the Finnish Parliament who are critical of prospects for a new nuclear reactor.
      “We will not need more nuclear capacity for at least 10-15 years after Olkiluoto 3 is built”, Kaunisto says, adding that now is the time to develop biological energy sources.
      In Kaunisto’s view, no consumption forecasts for electricity favour the construction of new capacity. As he sees it, a new nuclear facility would be built primarily to meet the electricity needs of Estonia and Sweden.
     
The network of MPs critical toward more nuclear energy has 45 members representing all Parliamentary groups - two are from the National Coalition Party, which is otherwise very pro-nuclear. As a party, the National Coalition wants to grant licences to all three applicants.
      One of the two National Coalition Party MPs that are in the anti-nuclear network is Merikukka Forsius, and Kaunisto will not disclose the name of the other one. The group plans to hold a seminar on the issue in April.
     
The results of the survey suggest that both the companies hoping to build new nuclear facilities and opponents of nuclear energy have their work cut out for them, as there are many who are - or at least say they are - undecided on the matter. Many want to wait for the government’s proposal, which is expected soon after Easter.
      In the SDP group, for instance, Päivi Lipponen and Antti Kalliomäki both declared themselves to be pro-nuclear, but they do not yet want to say how many licences they would be willing to grant.
      Social Democrat Raimo Piirainen says that the number of licences would depend on the size of the reactors in question. If a 1,600 MW station were to be built, one licence would be enough in his view.
     
When the proposal for a licence reaches Parliament, there will be an initial debate by the full Parliament, after which the proposal will go before the Parliament’s Commerce Committee. The Commerce Committee is headed by Social Democrat Jouko Skinnari, who would be willing to grant “about two” licences.
      Also making a statement on the matter will be the Environment Committee, which is headed by MP Susanna Huovinen (SDP), who is against any additional nuclear capacity.
      She says that she does not want to “leave a waste bucket for future generations”. She also noted that the development of alternative energy ground to a halt after the previous decision for new nuclear energy.
      Nuclear opponent Mikaela Nylander (Swedish People’s Party) says that she plans to be present at the vote on the matter, even though it will mean interrupting her maternity leave.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Nuclear plant application to come before Parliament this spring (1.3.2010)
  National Coalition Party wants to grant three nuclear licences (8.3.2010)
  Pekkarinen sets timetable for nuclear decision (4.3.2010)

Helsingin Sanomat