Finland’s Environment and Climate Minister Kai Mykkänen has said that another nuclear power plant should be built in the country, Finnish media reported on Thursday.
Discussions about building a nuclear power plant began as early as Monday when it was announced that energy group Fortum was lobbying for the construction of a new plant. On Thursday, Finnish Environment and Climate Minister Kai Mykkänen said the country needs a new large nuclear power plant
According to Mykkänen, increased wind power production and current nuclear capacity are insufficient to meet growing consumption. He said:
“If we continue with the growth figures, it is not a question of whether it will be wind power or nuclear power. We need both.”
The Minister emphasised that Finland needs to develop both wind power and nuclear power. Finland currently has two nuclear power plants: the Loviisa nuclear power plant with two reactors, which has been extended until 2050, and the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant with three reactors, the last of which started regular electricity production in 2023.
A third Hanhikivi NPP was previously planned in cooperation with Russia’s Rosatom, but this project was cancelled by Finland’s Fennovoima Hanhikivi 1 in 2022.
