Finland clears nuclear venture with Russian firm

HELSINKI (AP) – Finland has taken a major step toward approving the construction of a nuclear plant by Finnish-Russian consortium Fennovoima that would be the Nordic country’s sixth reactor.

In a 115-74 vote, lawmakers re-endorsed the project Friday. The 1,200 megawatt plant was originally approved by lawmakers in 2010 but fell through after it did not find enough local investors. Finland requires that domestic investors own at least 60 percent of Fennovoima.

Currently, Russia’s Rosatom holds a 34-percent stake.

Finland’s state-controlled utility Fortum has said it is ready to take up a 15 percent stake. The government says it is confident it can find Finnish investors for the remaining 45 percent.