Finland set to boost atomic power against E.U. trend

[Susan L Gawarecki <loc@icx.net>]

Finland set to boost atomic power against E.U. trend 

By Paul de Bendern, Reuters

Thursday, May 23, 2002



HELSINKI — Finland looks set to become the first west European

country in more than a decade to approve the construction of a new

nuclear reactor in a move aimed at meeting future energy needs and

greenhouse gas targets. 



Parliament is expected to approve Friday by a very slim majority the

five-party coalition government's proposal to build a fifth nuclear

power

station, but as some members are undecided, it is not yet a done deal,

according to recent opinion polls. 



If it approves the bill, it will be the first such plan since 1991, when

France authorized the construction of a new reactor, completed two

years ago, Greenpeace International said. 



Ever since the 1986 explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station,

which spread radiation across Europe, western European governments

have sought alternative energy sources. And no commercial nuclear

power plant has been ordered in the United States since the 1979 Three

Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania, where there was a partial reactor

core meltdown. 



Pro-nuclear campaigners say a yes vote in Finland will get Western

Europe moving toward more nuclear power, as Eastern European and

Asian countries are already building reactors. "It will help leaders in

Western Europe persuade their public," said John Ritch, director-general

at the World Nuclear Association, an organization promoting nuclear

power. 



The antinuclear lobby has criticized the government for casting aside

health and security risks, particularly important since the Sept. 11

attacks against the United States. They also say it is caving in to

industry. "This is vested interest of the Finnish industry," said Tobias

Muenchmeyer, nuclear expert at Greenpeace, referring to the fact that

some of Finland's biggest companies, like Fortum and UPM-Kymmene,

would fund the construction. 



LIFT ECONOMY, CUT GREENHOUSE GASES 



The government says it needs more reactors to ensure economic

growth, meet targets of the 1997 Kyoto accord on climate change, and

cut its dependence on Russia, which provides most of its imported

energy. Some 71 percent of energy is imported. 



It would cost up to 2.5 billion euros (US$2.32 billion) to build the

reactor, and it would be completed in 2008 at the earliest. But first

parliament will need to approve a separate plan for the actual

construction. 



The European Union has left the decision on nuclear energy up to each

member country. Recent opinion polls show that a slight majority of

Finns back more nuclear power, partly because Finland will be able to

meet its Kyoto targets. 



Under the Kyoto pact, developed nations agreed to curb emissions of

greenhouse gases blamed for blanketing the globe and driving up

temperatures. Rich nations aim to cut their emissions of gases like

carbon dioxide blamed for global warming by an average of 5 percent

below 1990 levels by 2012. 



The Environment Ministry says it is on track to meet that target but

says one of the challenges is to cut its reliance on coal, which

accounts

for 10 percent of its electricity supply. 



The Green Party, a government member that has threatened to quit if

parliament backs the proposal, was critical. "Nuclear power wards off

the greenhouse phenomenon like a shot of liquor a hangover," said

Osmo Soininvaara, chairman of the Green Party. 



(Additional reporting by Alister Doyle in Oslo) 

-- 

.....................................................

Susan L. Gawarecki, Ph.D., Executive Director

Oak Ridge Reservation Local Oversight Committee

We've moved!  Please note our new address:

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