Support Declining For Sixth Nuclear Reactor

As late as last October, a survey commissioned by the daily Helsingin Sanomat indicated support for a sixth reactor by over half of those asked. The latest poll shows 46 percent against compared to 36 percent in favour.

Minister of Trade and Industry Mauri Pekkarinen is surprised at the decline in support for a sixth reactor. He noted it was difficult to see what had happened in recent months to explain the change in attitudes.

Pekkarinen speculated that perhaps problems on the construction site of a fifth nuclear plant (Olkiluoto 3) had some bearing. On the other hand, he argued that by informing the public of such difficulties, this could actually strengthen confidence in officials supervising the reactor's construction.

Etelä-Suomen Sanomat also asked whether the public was ready to reduce personal energy consumption. Eight out of ten said they were willing to take up the challenge.

Some 1,000 people between the age of 15 and 79 were asked for their opinions in a telephone survey earlier in July. The margin of error was four percentage points.

YLE