Jyrki Katainen, Chairman for National Coalition and the Minister of Finance, writes in Savon Sanomat daily that giving a licence for three nuclear power plant would in practice mean just one more reactor.

Mr Katainen thinks that a permission should be given to all those applicants of the three candidates that fulfill the given terms. He expects the most cost-effective of the projects to start first.

The Minister of Finance writes that one power plant is needed just to replace the electricity that is imported from Russia. He wonders the stand of those who are against nuclear power in Finland but accept the import of nuclear power produced just across the border. Mr Katainen points out that he feels safer if the nuclear power we need is produced in Finland and stresses that in the new power plant, the latest and safest technology would be used. The Minister also points out that Fortum’s two reactors will come to the end of their operation time.

Mr Katainen calculates that two new licences would replace old technology and import from Russia and a third application, in turn, would be given for replacing coal power.

The Minister calls for long-term perspective and writes that after a couple of decades there would be six reactors at most instead of current five if three licences would be given now. In addition, import from Russia would have decreased as much as one power plant produces.

Mr Katainen hopes that the electricity consumption will increase in Finland during the next years because he believes this would mean investments in the Finnish industry. He also argues that the number of electric cars will increase in the future. This would help controlling climate change. Mr Katainen writes that for this to happen, there must be sufficient production of emission free and reasonably priced electricity.