home Nuclear Attitude, Nuclear Technology, U Lintilä welcomes Fortum’s decision to look into building nuclear power in Finland

Lintilä welcomes Fortum’s decision to look into building nuclear power in Finland

By John Dyer   Posted in Nuclear Attitude Nuclear Technology U
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Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä (Centre) was photographed at a plenary session of the Finnish Parliament in Helsinki on 27 September 2022. Lintilä on Monday welcomed news that Fortum is looking into building new nuclear power plants, be it small modular reactors or traditional larger ones, in Finland. (Markku Ulander – Lehtikuva)

MINISTER of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä (Centre) has welcomed news that Fortum is exploring the preconditions for building new nuclear power plants, be it small modular reactors or traditional larger ones, in Finland.

“From the state’s viewpoint, we still need more nuclear power and, in effect, regulating power for wind and solar in a situation where Fennovoima’s power plant project has fallen through,” he said to STT on Monday.

Lintilä added that the timing is opportune also because a new nuclear energy act is presently being drafted at the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The act will take into consideration aspects that are not regulated under the current legislation, including small modular reactors, to enable their monitoring from various viewpoints.

Although the technology is not yet on an economically feasible basis, it is positive that preparations are underway with a view to adopting small reactors on a wider scale, according to him.

Also Helen, the energy utility of the City of Helsinki, has expressed its interest in small modular reactors.

The minister also revealed that a nuclear energy treaty is being discussed between Finland and the United States. The memorandum of understanding, he added, is set to be finalised and signed by the countries by the end of the year, laying the groundwork for co-operation in the field that mostly consists of development and exchange of information.

He revealed he is also looking to generate interest in Finnish nuclear power expertise and Finland as an investment destination in the United States. Finland, he highlighted, has plenty to offer as evidenced by global interest in Onkalo, a deep geological repository for the final disposal of spent nuclear fuel in Eurajoki.

Posiva, the company in charge of final disposal, has applied for a permit for inaugurating the depository for nuclear fuel used by the five reactors in use in Loviisa and Olkiluoto.

“Now that we’re looking for investors for new nuclear power or small modular reactors, it’s becoming clear that there’s a shortage of investors,” he commented to the Finnish news agency.

Source: Helsinki Times