Consultation on the EIA report for the future of Loviisa nuclear power plant has begun

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Publication date 21.9.2021 9.43
Press release
Kuvassa Loviisan voimalaitos

Consultation on the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report concerning the continuation of Fortum’s Loviisa nuclear power plant has begun. The consultation period is from 20 September to 18 November 2021. Comments and opinions can be submitted through the Lausuntopalvelu.fi service. A public hearing on the project will take place in Loviisa on Thursday 7 October.

On 6 September 2021, Fortum [Power and Heat Ltd] submitted an EIA report to the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment that assesses the environmental impact of continuing the operation of, or alternatively, decommissioning the Loviisa nuclear power plant as well as the impact of the final disposal facility of low and intermediate-level waste. 

The two primary alternatives in Fortum’s EIA process are either continuing the use of both units until about 2050 or decommissioning the nuclear power plant after the expiration of the current licences. The operating licences of Loviisa plant units 1 and 2 expire at the end of 2027 and at the end of 2030, respectively.

The EIA report includes assessments of the project’s impact on people’s living conditions, wellbeing and health as well as the environment, waters, groundwater, fisheries, nature sites, landscape and cultural environment. In addition, its impact on community structure and regional economy has been assessed.

Many ways to issue opinions and comments on the EIA report

Fortum’s EIA report is available at https://tem.fi/en/loviisa-eia-report The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment requests opinions on it from authorities and organisations from 20 September to 18 November 2021. The consultation is carried out online in the Lausuntopalvelu.fi service.

Statements and opinions can also be delivered to the registry of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment by email (kirjaamo(at)tem.fi), by mail (PO Box 32, FI-00023 Government), or by visiting the Ministry’s registry at Ritarikatu 2 B, FI-00170 Helsinki. Please include the reference VN/20577/2021 in all statements and opinions. The submitted opinions and statements will be published on the Ministry’s website.

Subject to the COVID-19 situation, the public event will be held at the Lovisavikens School on 7 October 2021 from 18.00 to 21.00. The address is Brandensteininkatu 27 B, 07901 Loviisa. You can register for the event on the website of the project at www.fortum.fi/loviisayva. The event will be available as a live webcast. The event can be accessed online or by telephone on the aforementioned website.

The coordinating authority will release its informed conclusion in January 2022. The EIA report will be attached to the application for an operating or decommissioning license concerning the future of the power plant in due course. The coordinating authority for the project’s EIA procedure is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and for international hearings, the Ministry of the Environment.

Inquiries:
Jaakko Louvanto, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 048 274 
Liisa Heikinheimo, Deputy Director General, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 035 
Linda Kumpula, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 060 125