Finland Times

 

Fennovoima Office at Pyhäjoki. Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

The municipal council of Pyhäjoki in Northern Ostrobothnia decided on Tuesday not to hold referendum regarding Fennovoima nuclear power plant project.

 

The municipal council rejected the referendum initiative by 16-4 votes.

 

This is the fourth time the municipal council had called for a referendum on the subject.

 

The municipal council is soon expected to give its verdict to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy pertaining the Fennovoima's application for a nuclear power plant in Pyhäjoki.

 

The decision from the municipality is expected before the deadline which has been set at May 16.

 

The municipality has to reach a new decision as the project has experienced changes such as in the area of the plant's supplier.

 

The alliance government is facing difficulties surrounding the permission given to the proposed Fennovoima nuclear power plant with conflicting opinions coming from inside the government.

 

The crisis is likely to deepen as a component of the government Vihreät (Green Party) has already hinted at quitting the government centreing the issue.

 

Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, however, said Fennovoima’s application seeking permission for a nuclear power plant did not constitute a new policy decision.

 

Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

The Green league opposed reconsidering permit for nuclear power plant by parliament.

 

Ville Niinistö, chief of the Greens, said that his party believed that others would respect the cause that the Finnevoima permit issue should not be referred to parliament.

 

Niinistö, also the environment minister, believed that Fennnovoima’s application was essentially a new policy decision.

 

On February 13, Fennovoima delivered the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the Ministry of Employment and the Economy.

 

The EIA was for the planned 1,200 megawatt pressurised water reactor to be constructed at Pyhäjoki. The supplier is a concern of the Russian state-run Rosatom Group.

 

Last summer, the ministry of economy required that the project’s EIA be updated and safety be evaluated.

 

 “Based on these reports, a legal position will be taken on whether or not the existing decision-in-principle also covers the Rosatom option or if the decision-in-principle made by parliament in 2010 should be reconsidered. The assessments are proceeding as planned and in good cooperation with the authorities and Fennovoima,” minister of economy Jan Vapaavuori said after getting the EIA report.