Land use plan for nuclear approved

Finland's ministry of the environment has approved the municipality of Pyhäjoki's land use plan for the region of Hanhikivi to allow for the siting of a nuclear power plant there. In a statement, Fennovoima said that the decision means that its plans for constructing a nuclear power plant in Hanhikivi are feasible. The company said that extensive studies regarding environmental and other possible impacts were conducted for making the changes in the land use plan. Fennovoima is also considering Karsikko in Simo municipality, also in the north of the country, as the possible location of its planned plant. The environment ministry approved the new regional land use plan for Simo last spring. Fennovoima is set to select the location for its plant during the first half of 2011. In April, the Finnish government approved the construction of two out of three proposed new nuclear power plants: Fennovoima's planned plant, as well as Teollisuuden Voima Oyj's (TVO's) proposed fourth reactor at its existing Olkiluoto site. Parliament must now ratify that approval before construction can commence.