Mr Taisto Turunen, Director General of the Energy Department of the Ministry of Employment and the Economy, says in the national daily Turun Sanomat that the ministry intends to propose that only one new nuclear plant will get a licence. Three applications have been submitted. The applicants are Fennovoima, Fortum and Teollisuuden Voima.

The Ministry aims at getting its proposal ready at the turn of the year. The Council of State could then give its own decision in the beginning of 2010. After that, the proposition will be processed by the Parliament.

It is possible that the schedule will be delayed due to appeals submitted concerning statements of Loviisa city and Ruotsinpyhtää municipality. Fortum is applying for a licence in Loviisa and Fennovoima is applying for Ruotsinpyhtää. Mr Turunen says that the applications will be processed at the Ministry only after all appeals have been processed.

According to the Director General, the ministry is now compiling electricity consumption estimates. He says the task is in the current situation very difficult. This may also cause delay for nuclear power projects.

> Read more about the Decision-in-Principle application of Fennovoima.