Finland has much to teach the rest of Europe, says the Telegraph, because building a fifth nuclear plant gained a narrow majority in Parliament in 2002, and is expected to be in operation around 2009. [1]. In fact construction is already nine months behind schedule. [2] Satu Hassi, Finland's former environment minister says once the decision had been made, the country lost interest in alternative energy sources. [3]

David Howarth MP, Liberal Democrat energy spokesperson, in a letter to the Guardian points out some of the problems. To begin with, the plant's financing is riddled with covert state subsidies. The plant's French state-controlled suppliers received massive export guarantees and the project benefited from German and Swedish state support. A bank 50% owned by the state of Bavaria financed the deal at a cheap rate of interest (2.6%). Finland has not solved the problem of nuclear waste, merely persuaded the inhabitants of a particular location to allow further investigations to be carried out. If these scientific tests show the site is not suitable, it will not be allowed to proceed. If the British government is to be believed when it says that nuclear power here will receive no subsidies, the Finnish example does not help the nuclear industry's case. [4]

[1] Finns Blaze Nuclear Trail Telegraph 4th April 2006
Finns give nuclear plant a positive reaction, Telegraph 4th April 2006
[2] Guardian 24th April 2006
[3] Guardian 14th April 2006
[4] Guardian 18th April 2006