TVO is of great significance to local economy

OL3 has further strengthened the hub of nuclear expertise in Olkiluoto. The hub reinforces the position of not only the Municipality of Eurajoki but the entire Rauma region, both in terms of the economy and internationally.

At the start of the Olkiluoto 3 project, the Turku School of Economics estimated the direct and indirect employment impact of Olkiluoto 3 to be about 6,000 person years in Satakunta region.

Chief Executive Officer Riikka Piispa from Rauma Chamber of Commerce believes the figure is even higher in reality.

– As the construction project took longer than assumed in the study, the figure could be more than 10,000 person years.

The true impact on the regional economy of Satakunta would, indeed, be a worthy subject of a new study.

The taxes paid by foreign workers during the construction period made a hefty increase in the tax revenue of municipalities around Olkiluoto. Municipal tax revenue during the project brought Rauma almost one hundred million euros and Pori more than 30 million euros in extra income.

Actively involved from the very beginning

Rauma Chamber of Commerce which covers Rauma, Eura, Eurajoki and Säkylä has according to Ms. Piispa been an active operator in the power plant project from the very beginning.– Under the leadership of the then Chief Executive Officer, Jaakko Hirvonsalo, the Chamber of Commerce influenced for its part the public opinion on nuclear power and the selection of Olkiluoto in Eurajoki as the site for the fifth nuclear power plant. Once the decision on the construction of the nuclear power plant had been made, we promoted the networking of businesses and took efforts to ensure that small and medium sized companies in southwest Finland won their fair share of building contracts for Olkiluoto 3.

When the project was launched, the small and medium sized companies operating in the region were provided information on competitive bidding and the required quality competence, for example. More than 200 Satakunta-based companies have been involved in the OL3 project. The project has provided employment opportunities to the construction business, but the service sector has also benefited from it, for example operators in employment services.

– Many firms have been given a strong boost to their business by this project. Successful participation in the demanding nuclear power construction industry is a strong indication of knowledge and capabilities in operating in an international environment. The OL3 project has been characterised by its highly international nature.

The level of nuclear expertise has increased in Olkiluoto during the construction of Olkiluoto 3, which according to Ms. Piispa, is a huge potential for the future of the whole region. The climate crisis has also enhanced public support for nuclear power in the recent years.

– Another factor that strengthens the positive development is the progress made in the project for the final disposal of nuclear fuel with Posiva submitting the application for an operating license for the nuclear fuel encapsulation plant and final disposal repository at the end of the year. The change in the public opinion has been reinforced by us being the first in the world to have a solution for final disposal.

At the same time as OL3 and the final disposal facility are nearing completion, the high upsurges experienced in prices in the electricity markets have ignited a lively debate.

Good outlook for Rauma region

In 2021, Rauma region finished second in the municipality ranking of the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK), and very close to the winning region of Seinäjoki. According to Riikka Piispa, this has been achieved as a result of the diversified economic structure and good logistics connections of the region, among others.

There is also an understanding in the region of the impact that the wellbeing of businesses has on the success of the whole area.

– In addition to nuclear competence, our region can boast successful business operations in shipbuilding, bio and food sector as well as the technology industry, not forgetting logistics capabilities and the tourism industry either. The operation of the new sawmill of Metsä-Fibre in Rauma will start this year.

– The lack of expert personnel is a hindrance to success in almost every sector. This is particularly true in engineering and metal industries, but the social and health care sector also suffers from a shortage of personnel.

This question will not be resolved quickly and therefore we must keep strengthening the attraction of the region as a whole, Ms. Piispa concludes.

“Olk­ilu­oto re­ceives ex­perts from all over the world for an­nual out­ages and var­i­ous pro­jects. They have a pos­i­tive in­flu­ence also on the day-to-day life of Eu­ra­joki”, Mr. Lakaniemi points out.

Eurajoki appreciates TVO’s transparency

The completion of the Olkiluoto 3 nuclear power plant is important to the image of the Municipality of Eurajoki.

Vesa Lakaniemi, the Municipal Manager of Eurajoki, believes that the Finnish philosophy of diligence in everything we do gives people confidence in nuclear power.

– The residents of Eurajoki are very familiar with nuclear power and the final disposal of nuclear fuel. TVO communicates openly about its operation and almost everybody in Eurajoki has a friend or a family member who works in Olkiluoto.

Mr. Lakaniemi points out that Olkiluoto will still be a hub of nuclear industry even after OL3 is in operation and the foreign construction workers have left.

TVO and the Municipality of Eurajoki go a long way back in mutual communication. Regular meetings ensure the exchange of information and everything happening on the Island of Olkiluoto is known to the Municipality at all times.

Tax revenue helps development of Eurajoki

According to Municipal Manager Vesa Lakaniemi, the completion of the long-term project means a return to normal day-to-day life.

The Municipality of Eurajoki’s revenue from the property taxes paid by Teollisuuden Voima and Posiva is more than 20 million euros a year. Property taxes are a stable source of income for the Municipality and provide a strong base for the development of services and infrastructure.

– In the recent years, large-scale investment projects in Eurajoki have included participation in the improvement of national road 8 as well as continuous development of the street network. The next major investment with a budget of about eight million euros is the construction of a sports centre.

According to Mr. Lakaniemi, another indication of strong municipal economy is the municipal tax rate which Eurajoki has been able to keep at 18 percent, i.e., clearly lower than the national average (20.2 percent).
The population of Eurajoki fell in 2017–2019, but started to grow again in 2020 when the total number was about 9,400. The building crews from all over Europe were visible in the Municipality particularly during the frame construction phase of OL3.

– In the past years, the volume of work-based immigration was really high, but the situation has now settled and most of the temporary accommodation has already been removed. But the number of individuals who came here to build a new power plant and then decided to make this a permanent home for their family is also quite high.

According to Mr. Lakaniemi, the 15-year long construction project has impacted the Municipality in many ways: It has given Eurajoki a real international booster shot.

Municipality ranking of Confederation of Finnish Industries

(total points in brackets)

1. Seinäjoki region (75)
2. Rauma region (75)
3. Salo region (70)
4. Turku region (69)
5. Helsinki region (68)

Text: Timo Sillanpää
Photos: Tapani Karjanlahti, Natalie Kylliäinen