Finland questions Hanhikivi nuclear plant prospects amid Ukraine conflict.

[NNadir]

Finland questions Hanhikivi's prospects amid Ukraine conflict

Fennovoima says that the "Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the counter measures by EU and western countries as a consequence" pose a "major risk" to the future of the nuclear power plant project.

Finland’s Minister for Economic Affairs Mika Lintila told the country’s parliament that he would not be granting a building permit for the Hanhikivi nuclear plant as things stand.

"It's quite clear that as a consequence of this conflict this project will at least be significantly delayed," Lintilä told the STT newswire on Thursday.

Fennovoima, the company behind the planned nuclear power plant which will have a Russian reactor and is one third owned by a Finnish subsidiary of Russia’s Rosatom, said it "acknowledges that the ongoing conflict situation may have impacts on the Hanhikivi 1 project".

It said the "Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the counter measures by EU and western countries as a consequence, pose a major risk for the Hanhikivi 1 project.

"We are very sad about the developments and the situation in Ukraine. There are a lot of people close to our employees in the area and our thoughts are with them."

According to Finland’s STT news agency, Fennovoima is now waiting to hear what sanctions the EU will impose on Russia before speculating on the project's future...

Regrettably, a considerable fraction of the nuclear construction infrastructure is located in Russia. Many countries to address climate change (...and frankly the only way that will work...) using nuclear energy are looking to acquire VVER reactors.

This is another way in which Putin's criminality is affecting the future.

The Finnish nuclear program - and let's be clear that Russian Imperialism has played a huge pernicious role in Finland's history - has had a poor experience with the construction of the French EPR reactor which will finally go on line soon - and hence the decision to build a VVER in this space.

It is important to note that not every Russian is a Putinite, just as not every American was a Trump humper, although the reputation of all Americans was effected by the fact that we had a criminal leader.

The ripple effects of this unjust war - I'm not sure that there really are ever just wars - will have a profound effect on the Environment, simply by limiting access to an important element of infrastructure.