Finnish parliament votes in favor of Russian-designed NPP
MOSCOW. Dec 5 (Interfax) - The Finnish parliament on Friday voted in favor of building the Russian-designed Hanhikivi-1 nuclear power plant (NPP), the state Rosatom corporation told Interfax.
The corporation said 115 parliament members voted for and 74 against.
Fennovoima, the Finnish nuclear power company which is having the plant built, said in a statement that the parliament approved its supplement to the Decision-in-Principle regarding the construction of the NPP.
The government is requiring Fennovoima to submit a construction license application to by the end of June, 2015. The plant design work and construction license application are being prepared together with the plant supplier, Rusatom Overseas.
Work started at the site in Pyhajoki in mid-September with the construction of a new access road. During 2015-2017, extensive infrastructure work will include excavation and earthworks, as well as the construction of auxiliary buildings. The first concrete is scheduled for 2018.
Fennovoima also said Rusatom Overseas was in final negotiations with main suppliers and contracts are due to be signed by the end of the current year. Next-phase negotiations will begin in early 2015.
At the end of 2013, Rusatom Overseas and Fennovoima signed a contract for the construction of the first generating unit of the Hanhikivi nuclear plant, which will be built in Pyhajoki. In addition to the construction contract, a ten-year, 450-million euro fuel contract for the future power plant was secured with OJSC TVEL.
At that time, Rusatom Overseas also concluded an agent agreement with Voimaosakeyhtio SF, which represents the interests of over 60 Fennovoima shareholders, providing for acquisition of a 34% stake in Fennovoima by the Russian company.
Rosatom closed the acquisition of a 34% stake in Fennovoima for 35.9 million euro in March of this year. Rosatom subsidiary Raos Voima OY and Finnish Voimaosakeyhtio SF, the parent company of Fennovoima, signed the agreement on the sale. The Fennovoima stake will be held by Raos Voima Oy.
