Nuclear News

Industry has lead role in new Finnish nuclear reactor: government

Oct 3, 2006, 17:05 GMT

Helsinki - A proposal that Finland should consider building a sixth nuclear reactor rests with the power industry, the Finnish government said Tuesday.

The proposal about expanding the current nuclear energy programme was presented in a report presented to Trade and Industry Minister Mauri Pekkarinen.

In addition to considering a sixth nuclear reactor, investigator Matti Purasjoki suggested more funding to renewable energy sources and legislation that would make it easier to build more hydroelectric plants in the Nordic country.

Another suggestion was to consider more cooperation with neighbouring Russia in energy issues.

Purasjoki was commissioned by the industry minister last April to review the Finnish energy market.

'It is up to the industry to build additional capacity, and that takes time,' Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen was quoted as telling Finnish news agency STT.

Vanhanen however seemed less willing to back Purasjoki's suggestion that energy company Fortum's strong position should be reduced by setting up a new state-run company to operate hydroelectric power plants.

Finland currently operates four nuclear reactors. France's Areva and Germany's Siemens are building a fifth reactor at Olkiluoto, western Finland.