Finnish energy groups interested in building sixth nuclear reactor

Mar 28, 2007, 16:36 GMT

Helsinki - Two Finnish energy groups announced Wednesday that they were interested in building a sixth nuclear reactor in the Nordic country.

Energy group Fortum said it wanted to build a reactor at Loviisa where two of the country's four reactors are currently operating.

Power company Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) said it was interested in locating a reactor at Olkiluoto, south-western Finland, where two other reactors are operating and construction on a fifth reactor began in 2005.

The reactor at Olkiluoto is being built by France's Areva and Germany's Siemens, and is a European Pressurized Water Reactor (EPR).

Environmental impact assessments for the possible sixth reactor were to be launched before formal applications could be considered, sources said.

Both Fortum and TVO said no investment decisions had been made.

The announcements to assess a sixth reactor were however in line with recent statements by among others Fortum Chief Executive Mikael Lilius.

Citing increased energy use, TVO Chief Executive Pertti Simola said that new capacity was likely needed by the end of the next decade at the latest.

The plans were announced as Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's three-party coalition formally stepped down after general elections held on March 18.

Vanhanen's Centre Party remained the largest party with 51 seats in the 200-seat legislature, and he was likely to be asked to form a new coalition.