Pori City Council votes to proceed with minority stake sale in Pori Energy amid opposition

The City Council of Pori voted on Monday to continue preparations for the sale of a minority stake in Pori Energy, as proposed by the city’s administrative board. The goal is to generate hundreds of millions of euros from the sale, part of which could be allocated for investments, with at least 200 million euros set to be invested to generate income for the city. Mayor Lauri Inna has firmly positioned himself as a supporter of advancing the sale.

However, there is significant opposition to the deal at this early stage, although the specifics of the sale remain unclear. Critics fear that the sale could transfer decision-making power regarding the energy company outside the city and lead to increased electricity transmission fees. The upcoming municipal elections are also intensifying the debate.

During the council meeting, a minority faction of the SDP party immediately called for the proposal to be returned for further preparation, led by notable member and member of parliament Krista Kiuru. This motion was defeated by a vote of 43 to 16. Niko Viinamäki from the Liike Nyt party proposed the complete rejection of the sale plan, receiving support from Anssi Salmi of the Finns Party and the Left Alliance. Kiuru made a counter-proposal to reject the administrative board’s offer, arguing that Viinamäki’s motion was not focused on the board’s proposal.

The meeting was temporarily suspended for ten minutes as legal experts clarified the voting process. With the assistance of city legal advisor Pauliina Mäenpää, Chair Mari Kaunistola concluded that Viinamäki’s and Kiuru’s motions were similar. Ultimately, the city’s administrative proposal received solid backing with a vote of 46 to 13.

Despite this, criticism from the council raises concerns about the preparations for the sale, with many opponents emphasizing the importance of the terms and price of the agreement. A consultancy firm assisting the city presented a timeline indicating that the matter will likely come before the council in December. Mayor Inna will need to work hard to secure a sufficient majority in support of the sale, especially after a similar deal collapsed in Lahti earlier this year.