Finland gives go-ahead to joint nuclear venture with Russia’s Rosatom

Finland’s parliament gave the go-ahead on the 5 December 2014 to a controversial joint venture with the Russian energy firm, Rosatom, to build a new nuclear reactor in the north of the country.

The joint project ignored calls from the European Union for members states to curtail new energy deals with Russia, following Russia's annexation of Crimea in the spring of 2014.

Reports announced in July 2015 that the Finnish government had rejected a bid by a small and almost unknown Croatian solar firm that wanted to take a €159 million stake in this nuclear power plant, putting the future of the project in doubt.

The decision came following questions about ties between Migrit Solarna Energija and Russian business.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Finland's Olkiluoto 3 nuclear plant delayed again http://www.europeansources.info/record/finlands-olkiluoto-3-nuclear-plant-delayed-again/

World Nuclear Association: Information Library: Country Profiles: Nuclear Power in Finland http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/Country-Profiles/Countries-A-F/Finland/

EUObserver, 02.07.15: Finland challenges mystery nuclear investor https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/129431

Politico, 13.07.15: Finland’s mysterious nuclear investor http://www.politico.eu/article/finland-nuclear-investor-russia-investor-reactor-energy/

Politico, 17.07.15: Finland kills nuclear bid with mysterious investor http://www.politico.eu/article/finland-kills-nuclear-bid-with-unusual-investor/

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