Finland finds no records of alleged US-backed nuclear plant in Pyhäjoki

Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has no documents related to a reported US-led nuclear power plant project in Pyhäjoki, despite a month-long search following a freedom of information request by public broadcaster Yle.

The inquiry, filed on 24 April, sought all records—including emails and official papers—linking the US firm Westinghouse Electric Company to the municipality of Pyhäjoki between 2022 and 2026. The ministry confirmed to Yle on Friday that no such documents exist in its possession.

The request followed an April report by tabloid Iltalehti, which claimed a Finnish property investment firm, Trevian, was in talks to acquire the Hanhikivi nuclear site in Pyhäjoki from Fennovoima, with Westinghouse slated to design and build a US-supplied reactor. The report also alleged coordination with the ministry, a claim Environment and Climate Minister Sari Multala (NCP) later dismissed as “largely unfounded” in an interview with Kauppalehti.

Yle’s attempts to verify the project’s status with Pyhäjoki municipality, Trevian, and Westinghouse have yielded no confirmation. Municipal manager Matti Soronen told Yle in April that while Pyhäjoki remains committed to hosting a nuclear plant, he could not confirm Westinghouse’s involvement. Trevian declined to comment, and Westinghouse has not responded to interview requests.

The Hanhikivi site was previously earmarked for a Russian-backed reactor, but those plans collapsed in 2022 following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.