The municipality of Pyhäjoki on the western coast of Finland has been selected by Fennovoima as the site of the country’s third nuclear power plant. Site preparations for the plant could start by the end of 2012. The nuclear power plant will be built by Fennovoima Oy on the Hanhikivi peninsula on the coast of Bothnian Bay. Fennovoima will now work towards gaining various licences and permits, as well as conducting further site characterization studies. The company was granted a decision-in-principle by the Finnish government for the plant in May 2010, ratified by parliament two months later. Fennovoima said that preparatory works at Pyhäjoki will begin in late 2012 at the earliest. The plant is expected to begin operating around 2020, although Fennovoima said, “The construction schedule will be elaborated after the plant supplier has been selected.”
