By Kauppalehtinews of the atrocities committed by Russian troops in Ukraine was a turning point that discouraged continued buying energy from Russia.
The magazine asked Jari KostamaDirector of Energy Production of the Finnish Energy Industry Association, what it means for Finland to cut energy imports from Russia.
The short answer is that Finland is doing better than many other European countries. However, a huge change can be seen in the trade flow.
The value of annual imports of crude oil and petroleum products from Russia has been about 3.5 billion euros.
At the end of February, the energy company Neste announced that it would replace most of Russia’s crude oil purchases with other crude oil grades, such as North Sea oil. As early as the beginning of April, the company said that it had exchanged about 85 percent of the crude oil it bought from Russia for other crude oil grades.
About two thirds of the natural gas used in Finland comes from the eastern border and the rest from Estonia. Russian gas should be completely replaced by next fall at the latest.
According to Kostama, wood chips from Russia used in heating plants can be replaced by Finnish suppliers. Kostama also said that replacing Russian nuclear fuel with supplies from other countries is not a problem.
As a whole, Kostama said he believed that Russian energy could be replaced in Finland.
"Summa summarum, even if it all closes and at some point it probably will, yes we can do it. It may not be easy and is likely to become more expensive, but Russian energy can be replaced by other sources."
Nordic FMs to Kiev
Finland’s largest Swedish-language daily newspaper, Hufvudstadsbladetreports Nordic foreign ministers may soon be on their way to Kiev to meet with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to the Norwegian Foreign Minister Hufvudstadsbladet Anniken Huitfeldt told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK on Tuesday that he and his Nordic colleagues are considering a trip to a war – torn country.
If a trip and discussions take place, Finland will be represented by the Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto (Green).
Lots of summer jobs
Early morning leading article Tampereen Aamulehti there was a report that an exceptional number of summer jobs are available in the Pirkanmaa region this year.
Companies are now hiring summer workers at a record rate after two years of seasonal labor shortages caused by a coronavirus pandemic.
Aino SalonenJob search service Duunitor’s content and communications manager said the summer outlook for job seekers looks great.
In January-March, Duunitor had more than 50 percent more job advertisements from companies than in the corresponding period last year.
"This good situation will clearly not disappear during the spring," said Salonen,
The largest number of summer jobs this year is in the restaurant and tourism sector, the social and health sector, and sales and retail trade.
Summer jobs are especially available for people over the age of 18, but some employers are also looking for people aged 16-18.
The Confederation of Finnish Industries EK forecasts an increase in summer jobs for young people. It estimates that young people now have 120,000 summer jobs available nationwide, 25,000 more than in the summer of 2021.
Keep those winter tires
Evening paper tells readers The unusually cold, snowy weather continues for the time being in much of the country, but the snow cover will begin to melt next week, especially in the south and southwest.
Paper also notes that the late start of spring could confuse some motorists from continuing to use winter tires.
According to regulations that came into force in 2020, winter tires must be used from the beginning of November to the end of March, if the weather so requires.
This means that the use of winter tires required by law ended last week.
However, the magazine points out that it is important to remember that the end of the winter tire requirement does not mean that drivers have to change to summer tires immediately.
"Now, if ever, winter tires are needed," writes Iltalehti.
Even if there is no more snow, cold temperatures in the evenings, at night and well into the morning make the road surfaces very slippery.
Source: The Nordic Page