Minister Rehn: New transmission link between Finland and Sweden is an important step forward
On 1 November 2016, Finnish electricity transmission company Fingrid and its Swedish counterpart Svenska Kraftnät announced they were beginning preparatory work for a new, 800 megawatt transmission link between Finland and Sweden. The planned power line will run from Messaure in Sweden to Pyhäselkä in Finland, via Keminmaa. The project, an investment of almost EUR 200 million, is due for completion by 2025.
“The project preparation now being started by the transmission companies is an important step in strengthening the power transmission connections between Finland and Sweden,” says Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn.
“This new northern transmission link will eliminate a bottleneck that has inflated the price of electricity in Finland. The new transmission capacity will also improve the security of electricity supply in wintertime during particularly cold spells,” says Minister Rehn.
“Our aim is to get the construction of the new transmission link included on the European Union’s list of energy network Projects of Common Interest in the ongoing application process, which means during 2017. All the justifications are in place for EU funding in terms of the functioning of the Nordic electricity market and the security of supply. The European Commission has a preliminary understanding for this,” says Rehn.
Inquiries:
Markku Rajala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 50 345 8490