Marin: Finland needs weeks or months instead of years to cut off energy relations with Russia

He added that the Ministry of Economy and Labor is one of a handful of ministries working to ensure that the transition is achieved quickly.

Although the European Union has resorted to unprecedented sanctions to force Russia to end the war of aggression in Ukraine, the sanctions only targeted the country’s most important source of income – energy – last week, when a bloc of 27 countries announced. Prohibition on the purchase, import and transfer of coal originating in or exported from Russia.

The ban is due to take effect in August at the latest.

Marin said a month ago that it is unsustainable for Member States to continue to fund war by buying energy from Russia. However, energy imports have continued to both the EU and Finland.

Josep BorrellThe High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, complained Last week, the bloc paid € 35 billion in energy supplies to Russia and promised € 1 billion in military aid to Ukraine.

Marin on Sunday stated For YLE, Finland is in a better position than many other member states, especially in terms of electricity: the Nordic countries have a common electricity market and there are network connections between Finland and Sweden and Estonia.

YLE on Monday asked Suomen Energia how to cut off Russia’s energy imports if the necessary political decision is made soon.

Russia accounted for 95 per cent of Finland’s coal imports, 88 per cent of pellets’ imports, 86 per cent of crude oil imports, 67 per cent of natural gas imports, 36 per cent of other energy wood imports and 14 per cent of electricity imports. 2020, according to the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation.

Crude oil is the most economically significant category of energy imports, accounting for around € 2.7 billion in 2020.

The oil is refined into petrol and diesel at Neste’s refinery in Porvoo, southern Finland. The Finnish oil company has already announced its intention to purchase crude oil from other sources, although oil shipments have still arrived from Russia.

According to the Finnish electricity network company Fingrid, Finland is not dependent on electricity imports from Russia. “Fingrid is preparing for a sudden cessation of electricity trade with Russia. Security of electricity supply would not be threatened even if electricity trade with Russia ceases, it says release published April 5th.

Jari KostamaDirector of Energy Production, Suomen Energia, reminded YLE says that the OL3 reactor in trial operation at the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant will significantly increase its electricity generation capacity in Finland. He stressed that at full capacity, the reactor will produce more electricity than is technically possible to import from Russia.

Wind power capacity, on the other hand, is growing at a rate of about 1,000 megawatts per year.

Finland currently exports natural gas to Russia via three small liquefied natural gas terminals and a gas pipeline. About half of Russia’s gas imports, which amounted to € 232 million in 2020, are used in industrial production and half in the production of heat and electricity. According to energy news.

Finnish-Estonian intends to charter a large liquefied natural gas terminal vessel significantly facilitates the withdrawal of Russian gas. Heikki LindforsSuomen Energia’s gas market expert said that the ship and the existing routes are sufficient to cover all gas needs while the ship is in Finland.

“When the ship is in Estonia, there will be problems with the transfers, because the gas pipeline between Finland and Estonia will not be able to transfer all the necessary gas. That is when we need to prioritize the use of gas, and industry is a priority, he said comments to the broadcaster.

Gas used in the production of heat and electricity could be replaced by, for example, coal, peat and wood.

“Energy companies are preparing for next winter by buying alternative fuels for gas because its availability is unknown,” he said. “We are in a good position because we have a couple of months to prepare. Demand for gas will be significantly lower in the summer than during the heating season. “

Russian wood chips, on the other hand, have been used especially in district heating plants, but they can also be replaced from domestic sources.

“Chips imported from Russia are substitutable, and the government has already taken steps to increase funding. Emergency stocks of peat are also planned. The change requires action from consumers and users, but I believe we will succeed, ”Kostama said.

Aleksi Teivainen – HT

Source: The Nordic Page