

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 05HELSINKI1047, CODEL HOBSON VISIT TO FINLAND
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05HELSINKI1047.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
05HELSINKI1047 | 2005-09-29 13:55 | 2011-04-24 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | Embassy Helsinki |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 HELSINKI 001047
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OREP ENRG PREL FI EUN
SUBJECT: CODEL HOBSON VISIT TO FINLAND
------------------------
Introduction and Summary
------------------------
¶1. Summary. CODEL Hobson -- House Appropriations Energy and
Water Development Subcommittee Chairman David Hobson (R-OH),
Representative Ed Pastor (D-AZ), Representative Marion Berry
(D-AR), Representative James Clyburn (D-SC), and
Representative Phil Gingrey (R-GA) -- visited Finland,
August 18-21. On August 19, the CODEL met with Taisto
Turunen, Director General, Energy Department, Ministry of
Trade and Industry (MTI). Turunen warmly welcomed the
Delegation to Finland and Representative Hobson remarked
that one of the Delegation's principal objectives was to
learn more about Finland's nuclear energy policy, including
its nuclear waste disposal strategies. More specifically,
Representative Hobson argued that the United States has a
unique "window of opportunity" to re-think the direction of
its own nuclear energy policy in an effort to confront
rising gasoline prices and curb fossil fuel emissions. The
Delegation also visited Eurajoki for briefings on the new
Olkiluoto nuclear power plant, its repository for reactor
operating waste, and an underground rock characterization
and research facility. The Delegation concluded its visit
with a briefing by the Director-General of Finland's
Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), Jukka
Laaksonen. End Summary.
¶2. Issues covered during the visit included Finland's
national nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal
strategies; selection and licensing processes for repository
sites; the process for securing municipality support for
repository construction; radiation standards for licensing
repositories; canister design, transportation and storage;
and Finland's future nuclear energy strategies.
¶3. The Finns, who now are building a fifth nuclear reactor
in Eurajoki (and the first nuclear power plant on either
side of the Atlantic in at least a decade), agreed with the
CODEL that nuclear power has an important role to play in
the search for cleaner (low carbon) energy sources. They
stressed, however, that every country had to devise its own
strategies for managing nuclear energy and waste
requirements. The Finnish "experience" was hardly
applicable for the United States as geographical,
geological, and meteorological factors in both countries
were different, not to mention the existence of diverse
political and legislative systems in both countries. The
national consensus in Finland was to pursue a nuclear energy
policy that reduced carbon dioxide emissions and increased
nuclear power production to meet the greenhouse gas emission
targets set for Finland in the Kyoto Protocol. In addition,
the Finns highlighted the cost effectiveness of their
nuclear energy policy and its market/consumer-driven nature
that relies on extensive input from all the principal
players in Finland's public and private sectors.
--------------------------------------------- ---
Meeting with MTI Director General Taisto Turunen
--------------------------------------------- ---
¶4. Turunen gave the CODEL a brief overview of the
production, consumption, and supply trends underpinning
Finland's energy policy. He explained that Finland's energy
sector is driven by active market forces in the highly
competitive Nordic region. (Note: The Electricity Market
Act, which came into force in 1995, has resulted in the
deregulation of the Finnish electricity market for three
million electricity consumers, thus allowing them to choose
the sources of their electricity supply.) Representative
Pastor asked about which authority sets electricity prices
in Finland; in response, Turunen noted that there was no
regulation of electricity prices as they were driven by the
market. Representative Hobson inquired about the sources of
financing for Finland's nuclear power plants and Turunens
reply emphasized the role of the private sector and
consumers as the primary financiers. He said that the
Finnish Government does not provide any economic
contributions or financial guarantees for the project.
¶5. Turunen further remarked that Finlands high energy
consumption is attributable to the energy-intensive
structure of Finnish industry, high standards of living, a
very cold climate, and long transportation distances.
Finland remains heavily dependent on imported energy, which
in 2004 accounted for 67 per cent of all energy consumed in
the country. (Note: Finland imports electricity from
Norway, Russia and Sweden.) To meet Finlands current and
future energy requirements, Turunen said that the Finnish
government was forced to examine other sources of energy,
y,
such as nuclear power and biofuels. Finnish forecasts
predict that the construction of Finlands third nuclear
power plant in Eurajoki (Olkiluoto site) with an output of
1600 MW will be completed in 2009. With its completion,
nuclear power will undoubtedly emerge as one of Finlands
principal energy sources. Turunen dismissed the notion, at
this time, that Finland had plans to build a sixth nuclear
power plant.
¶6. During Turunens presentation, Representative Hobson
also emphasized the importance of attracting American
university students into highly technical fields, such as
nuclear engineering, and inquired whether the Finnish
educational system produced enough graduates in these
specialized areas. Turunen replied that there were no
shortages of qualified engineering students in Finland. He
also noted with some pride that Finlands nuclear energy
policy was widely accepted by the Finnish public. (Note:
Turunen cited a 46 per cent approval rate and 25 per cent
ent
disapproval rate for nuclear power in Finland. High
approval ratings appear to be rooted in the widespread
belief amongst the Finnish public that nuclear power remains
safe as there have been no minor or major nuclear
environmental incidents in Finland thus far. End note.)
¶7. Representative Pastor asked about the licensing
processes for the new nuclear power plant, specifically, who
was responsible for the authorization of the construction
license. Turunen replied that the Council of State grants
the license and, in reply, Representative Hobson made the
observation that there were far too many legal challenges to
licensing applications in the United States. Turunen argued
that the Finnish way: the achievement of a popular
national consensus on any given issue precluded any
effective legal motions to block government plans in the
nuclear energy policy area.
--------------------------------------
Visit to Olkiluoto Nuclear Power Plant
--------------------------------------
¶8. The CODEL next met with Posivas Communications Manager,
Timo Seppala. Posiva is responsible for the
characterization of sites for final disposal of spent
nuclear fuel and the eventual construction and operation of
the repository. It is owned by Fortum (60 per cent stake),
a leading energy company in the Nordic countries and Baltic
rim, as well as TVO (40 per cent stake), an electricity
production company. The CODEL was given an opportunity to
speak to local politicians and businessmen from the
municipality and a trade promoter about the nature of their
political decision making processes and location and safety
issue deliberations. (Note: Each Finnish participant was in
favor of the construction of a new nuclear plant and
repository.) The politicians stressed the important role
the local municipality played during the initial and final
consultations to locate another nuclear power plant and
nuclear fuel repository at the Olkiluoto site. The
politicians remarked that unemployment was high in the
region (10.6 per cent) and that there was an economic
rationale for building another power plant and repository on
the same site. The local municipality also hoped that the
creation of new jobs would, in turn, stimulate the local
economic environment.
¶9. The CODEL was given a unique opportunity to visit
Olkiluotos low and intermediate level waste repository.
Completed in 1992, the repository was built to house all the
operational waste that is produced during the operating life
of the present Olkiluoto nuclear power units. Once the
waste generated by these plants has been disposed of the
tunnels and shafts leading to the repositories will be
filled and sealed. The CODEL asked Seppala to explain the
components of the final disposal canister; he, in turn,
referred the CODEL to the model of a final disposal canister
which had a double-layered copper/cast iron construction and
cost approximately $120,000 each.
¶10. The CODELs brief drive-by visit to a deep underground
rock characterization and research facility (ONKALO) was an
opportunity for Seppala to discuss the nature of the site
confirmation investigations for spent fuel disposal. Posiva
aims to have the repository operational by 2020 so that
disposal can commence.
--------------------------------------------- -------
Meeting with STUKs Director General Jukka Laaksonen
--------------------------------------------- -------
¶11. Laaksonen gave an extensive presentation on the
management of nuclear waste in Finland. He stressed the
need for the safe disposal of nuclear waste and spent fuel
by using proven, current technologies as well as the desire
not to leave nuclear waste as a burden for future
generations. His support for what he described as an
ethical dimension of Finlands nuclear energy policy became
obvious when he noted that this generation must take care
of its own waste. He also pointed out that it was critical
critical
for Finland to manage its nuclear waste without foreign
support. In this context, he highlighted the continued
relevance of the two major principles underlying Finlands
Nuclear Energy Act (1994): (1) nuclear waste generated in
Finland shall be handled, stored and permanently disposed of
in Finland, and (2) nuclear waste generated elsewhere than
in Finland, shall not be handled, stored or permanently
disposed of in Finland.
¶12. Finland currently provides for the permanent disposal
of low and medium level nuclear waste at two disposal
repositories (Olkiluoto and Loviisa), which are located at a
depth of 60-100 meters. There are plans to store spent fuel
in a new repository located in Olkiluoto (to be completed in
2020) at a depth of 500 meters. When asked by a CODEL
staffer to compare U.S. and Finnish permanent disposal
plans, Laaksonen noted that Finlands plan took all factors,
technical and political into account. Representative Hobson
son
asked whether STUK had examined French recycling efforts as
an option for disposing spent fuel. Laaksonen argued that
cost factors prohibited the implementation of a similar
operation in Finland. Hobson also argued that it would be
useful for the United States to launch a review of whether
more cost effective alternatives could be found for nuclear
waste disposal canisters. Laaksonen replied that STUK was
confident that double-layered copper/cast iron disposal
canisters, placed in a bed of bentonite, offered the safest
and most effective protection for the disposal of nuclear
waste.
¶13. When asked by Representative Hobson whether any Finnish
lawyers ever challenged the government about its nuclear
energy or waste disposal policies, Laaksonen remarked that
Finnish lawyers were not as powerful as in the United States
and that hardly any issue pertaining to this area ever ended
up in the Finnish court system. The CODEL acknowledged with
great interest Laaksonens remark that national governments
were rejecting efforts by the EU to coordinate European
guidelines for nuclear energy and nuclear waste disposal.
According to Laaksonen, the only pertinent international
organization was the International Atomic Energy Agency,
whose guidelines Finland adhered to.
¶14. The CODEL has cleared this cable.
MACK
K