Participating in EU decision-making on energy

Following Finland's membership of the European Union effective from the beginning of 1995, Finland is in a much better position to participate in European decision-making on energy matters, according to the country's Minister of Trade and Industry, Antti Kalliomaeki. He sees a Nordic gas pipeline grid capable of feeding gas from Siberia through Finland and the rest of Scandinavia to Central Europe as an excellent project, combining the interests of the Community, Finland and Russia. Finland has imported natural gas from Siberia since 1974. Siberian gas now accounts for some 10 % of Finland's total energy consumption; imports totalled 3,3 billion cubic meters in 1995, 4 % more than in 1994. Over half this gas is used by industry, although the fastest-growing sector is combined heat and power generation. Nearly 49 % of gas today is used in district heating and linked electricity generation. During 1997, a number of natural gas-fired combined cycle power plants will be completed. The largest of these will be Helsinki Energy's Vuosaari B, with 460 MW of electrical output and 410 MW of district heat output