Fennovoima will build its nuclear power plant to Pyhäjoki

Fennovoima decided in 2011 to build its nuclear power plant to Pyhäjoki. Pyhäjoki municipality is located in North Ostrobothnia and the nuclear power plant will be constructed on Hanhikivi peninsula on the coast of Bothnian Bay.

For the basis of the site selection, assessments were carried out during some four years. In the beginning of Fennovoima project in summer 2007, the company had almost 40 alternative sites. The number of alternatives was decreased gradually based on assessments and in December 2009 Fennovoima ended up having two alternatives, both located in Northern Finland: Pyhäjoki and Simo municipalities.

In the final site decision, safety, technical feasibility, environmental matters, construction costs and schedule were the main factors examined as well as the ability of the site region to support a project that will bring thousands of people to work and use services there. Hundreds of details were assessed within these key factors.

As a result of the assessments, it was concluded that both Simo and Pyhäjoki are feasible for accommodating a nuclear power plant and that the plant can be implemented safely and in an environmentally feasible manner on both sites. Pyhäjoki was selected as the preferred choice on the basis of an overall consideration assessing the site as a whole.

Several technical features in Pyhäjoki were more favorable. Due to technical benefits it is more feasible to construct a nuclear power plant to Pyhäjoki.

Environmental Impact Assesment has been conducted and the Finnish authorities, such as the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority STUK, have approved both of them as possible sites for a nuclear power plant.