Fortum gets temporary permit to increase Oulujärvi releases

Fortum has received permission to temporarily increase water releases from Lake Oulujärvi after the Oulujoki watershed recorded its heaviest autumn rainfall in more than 60 years, Yle reports.

The Permit and Supervisory Agency granted the energy company an exception allowing releases at the Jylhämä power plant to rise from the current 500 cubic metres per second to a maximum of 650 cubic metres per second.

The temporary permit is intended to help manage the watershed’s unusually high water levels and reduce risks from winter ice. A safe ice cover on the Oulujoki River requires flows to be restricted when freezing begins.

Fortum says the permit will allow it to lower Lake Oulujärvi’s water level in advance of the freezing season. Water levels in lakes across the watershed are currently high for this time of year.