Mu Xuequan, Xinhua News
Summary
HELSINKI, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The use of coal for producing heat and electricity is possible to become illegal in Finland in 2029, based on a bill submitted to the parliament on Thursday.
The envisaged schedule met instant criticism particularly from the Helsinki power company, currently depending largely on coal for its district heating needs. The industry accepts the phaseout of coal, but has said the tight schedule blocks innovative solutions.
Kimmo Tiilikainen, the minister for energy and environmental affairs, said on Thursday that Finland wants to be in the "forefront of countries giving up the use of coal". Tiilikainen said the legislation and the changes in taxation make it clear to commercial companies in the energy sector how they will have to schedule their own decision making.
The captial's municipally owned energy firm, Helen said that as the legislation speeds up the investment decisions it at the same time prevents the usage of emerging new technologies. Talking to national broadcaster Yle, Janne Rauhamaki, a section head at Helen, mentioned geothermal energy and small serial-produced nuclear power plants as new options under development.
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