Alumiini plant in Kokkola would consume 10% of Finland’s electricity

A proposed alumi­nium plant in Kokkola would consume over 9 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, roughly 10% of Finland’s total consumption, according to a newly published environmental impact assessment.

The Arctial facility, planned for a 170-hectare site on the Kokkola-Kruunupyy border, would produce 610,000 tonnes of low-carbon primary aluminium per year, an increase of 60,000 tonnes from earlier estimates. The plant would also process 170,000 tonnes of aluminium for further refining annually, using up to 50,000 tonnes of recycled raw material.

Carbon dioxide emissions would be about 4 kg per kilogram of aluminium produced, lower than the European average of over 10 kg, but still significant on a national and local scale. Other emissions, such as hydrogen fluoride, would be halved from initial estimates and remain within Finnish and EU air quality limits.

Electricity demand has risen from earlier projections, with the plant now expected to become Finland’s largest single consumer, surpassing Outokumpu’s Tornio steel mill. The site was chosen for its access to fossil-free electricity, with more renewable energy planned in the region.

The €4.7 billion investment would directly employ 1,200 people and create 3,600 indirect jobs. A final construction decision is expected next summer.

Noise, vibration, dust, and increased traffic would affect nearby residents, prompting the company to offer to buy adjacent land to contain potential disruptions.