One of the government’s most far-reaching decisions has long been on the desk of Minister of Economic Affairs Mauri Pekkarinen. A proposal for the construction of more nuclear generating capacity is to come before Parliament next month, and a decision on licences for the construction of two new commercial reactors is expected next autumn.

Part of the bargain agreed by government parties has been a programme to promote the use of renewable sources of energy – a so-called “twig package”. Prime Minister Vanhanen said that Tuesday’s decision was one of the biggest that the present government has made.

Vanhanen emphasised that the package of renewable energy is not merely a side dish to the nuclear proposal; he observed that the increase in the use of renewable energy will be equivalent in energy output to that of three large nuclear reactors.

The dispute over subsidies of using wood for energy was resolved in a manner to the liking of large forest companies.

Three companies submitted applications for licences to build a new nuclear reactor. Only the National Coalition Party of Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen was willing to go that far. The Swedish People’s Party supported two new licences, while the Greens oppose any increase in nuclear energy. The prime minister's Centre Party is divided.

Under Finnish law, nuclear reactors in Finland are subject to the approval of Parliament. Finland has four reactors in operation, and a fifth one is being built.

Government Endorses Building of Two New Nuclear Reactors