Fortum has initiated an Environmental Impact Assessment procedure (EIA procedure) for the Loviisa nuclear power plant. The procedure will assess the environmental impacts of a potential extension of the operation of the power plant or, alternatively, the decommissioning of the power plant, as well as the environmental impacts of the final disposal facility for low- and intermediate-level waste.
“Loviisa power plant’s current operating licenses are valid until the end of 2027 and 2030. In this procedure, we will assess the impacts of both the extension of the commercial operation and the decommissioning of the power plant on the environment, public health and safety, and on the surrounding community and the economy,” says Deputy Director Thomas Buddas from Loviisa power plant.
“In terms of the technology, the Loviisa power plant is in good shape and meets the current safety requirements. The environmental impact assessment that will now be conducted will help us to collect data for a possible new operating licence application,” he continues.
The EIA procedure has two phases and will take about eighteen months. The first programme phase contains the Fortum plan on the environmental impact assessment and on the arrangement of communications and participation. Based on the EIA programme and the statements and opinions about it, an environmental impact assessment will be carried out, the results of which will be presented in the Environmental Impacts Assessment report.
The coordinating authority in the EIA procedure is the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and the Ministry of the Environment is responsible for the international hearing.
At Fortum, we believe that nuclear power is needed also in the future. As a carbon dioxide emission-free, reliable source of energy that is not dependent on the weather, nuclear power contributes to meeting today’s need for energy and mitigating climate change – together with renewable energy.