Finland Times

IEA Executive Director, Maria von der Hoeven presented the IEA's Country Report on Finland in Helsinki on Thursday. Photo - Lehtkuva.

Finland is one of the most successful country from the aspects of ensuring energy security, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and well integration with the Nordic energy market, said the annual country review report of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

 

The Finland 2013 review report of the IEA published in Helsinki on Thursday also appreciated Finland’s energy policy and choices, said a government press release.

 

IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven handed the report over to the Minister of Economic Affairs Jan Vapaavuori on Thursday.

 

The report recommended that Finland should develop regional integration of its gas market building on the example of its successful regional integration of electricity market.

 

the Minister of Economic Affairs, Jan Vapaavuori on the occasion. Photo - Lehtkuva.

The IEA report was prepared on the basis of the findings by an international evaluation team during an inspection visit to Finland in the spring of 2012.

 

‘The review shows Finland has made the right, sustainable choices in its energy policy. The report also includes many insightful recommendations which will serve us well in trying to find answers to future challenges,’ said the Vapaavuori.

 

Vapaavuori also emphasised the role of forest biomass in the Finnish energy economy and with regard to the EU targets for increasing the production of renewable energies. 

 

‘Finland has participated actively in the EU’s search for a good solution to the sustainability criteria for biomass. The criteria should not impede the functioning of the bio-energy market, the attainment of renewable energy targets or the targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions,’ said Vapaavuori.

 

The IEA also recommends that the Finnish government should continue to address energy security concerns in a comprehensive and sustainable manner while pursuing its focus on its key policy pillars of bio-energy and nuclear energy. 

 

Finland should also keep focusing on improving energy efficiency and pay particular attention to efficiencies in the transport sector, it said.

 

In addition, Finland should contribute actively to finding a mutually acceptable solution at the EU-level regarding the discussion on sustainability criteria for biomass and the development of a robust certification scheme that does not create an unacceptable burden for small forest owners, recommended the IEA.

 

The IEA is an energy organisation with 28 OECD member countries. The organisation’s tasks include monitoring the oil markets, collaboration between member countries in case of disruptions in the supply of oil, and other extensive co-operations in the field of energy policies.

 

The IEA member countries are committed to common objectives in their energy policies. Based on these objectives, the IEA conducts a review every five years on the energy policy of each member country.