Pori city council decides against referendum for Pori Energia sale amidst local opposition

The city council of Pori will not hold a referendum before making a decision regarding the sale of a minority stake in Pori Energia. In August, the council authorized city officials to prepare for the sale. If a suitable buyer is found and a price agreement reached, the council intends to make a decision on December 20.

However, opponents of the sale initiated a local petition demanding that Pori Energia remain entirely under city ownership and also called for an advisory referendum on the matter. While the petition gathered enough signatures by the end of September, the timeline proved too tight. According to law, a decision on the referendum must be made 60 days before voting, and the deadline passed last Sunday, while the council’s next meeting is not until November.

Eight city council members sought to convene an extraordinary meeting to address the referendum issue in time. Council member Niko Viinamäki reported that eight signatures were collected, but a total of 15 was required to schedule an additional meeting. He expressed disappointment that the referendum is unlikely to happen and emphasized the need for the petition to be thoroughly discussed in the council.

Pori’s mayor, Lauri Inna, stated that officials are acting according to the council’s wishes regarding Pori Energia. He noted that the citizens’ petition has not yet been submitted to the city, which has delayed the preparation of a timeline for its consideration.

The debate over the sale of Pori Energia’s minority stake has become a key issue during the current council term. Mayor Inna aims to generate hundreds of millions of euros from the sale for investments and to create capital income. Opponents, including members from several political parties, fear losing decision-making power and rising electricity transmission costs. A public meeting held on October 15 largely featured critical voices regarding the sale.