Draft law: Government to decide on nuclear plant permits – Parliament would only receive a report. Photo: Markku Ulander / Lehtikuva
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Finland’s government is set to assume primary control over nuclear power project approvals under a revised Nuclear Energy Act now open for public consultation.
The proposal would shift decision-making from Parliament to the cabinet, ending decades of parliamentary control over nuclear energy expansion. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment released the draft legislation on Thursday.
If approved, the change would allow the government to grant permits in principle for nuclear plants. Parliament would be informed through a report but would no longer vote on such decisions.
Sari Multala, Minister of the Environment and Climate, said the reform is designed to support growing electricity demand and improve energy security. “The goal is to align the use of nuclear energy with society’s broader interests and ensure safety throughout the process,” she said.
Electricity consumption in Finland is projected to double due to major industrial projects. The government intends to make Finland a more appealing location for nuclear energy investment and accelerate the permitting process for new facilities.
Under the proposed law, small-scale nuclear projects would be overseen by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The cabinet would also have authority to extend the operating life of existing reactors.
The bill retains long-standing bans. Importing nuclear explosives remains prohibited, even after Finland’s NATO accession. The law also continues to bar the import of radioactive waste from other countries.
Despite having one of the world’s few final disposal sites for spent nuclear fuel, located at Onkalo near Olkiluoto, Finland will not accept waste from abroad, Multala said.
The revised act also shifts the responsibility for uranium mining licences from the government to industrial authorities.
The public consultation period on the draft law runs until the end of August.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
