Helen held a local residents’ meeting on the small modular reactor project in Östersundom
Helen’s goal is to build nuclear energy for heat production or combined heat and power generation in order to phase out energy production based on combustion by 2040. In November 2025, based on preliminary studies, Helen announced that the Salmisaari and Vuosaari power plant areas as well as the Norrberget area in Östersundom had been identified as potential site alternatives where the company will initiate the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure and more detailed studies. On Wednesday 1 April 2026, Helen held a local residents’ meeting in Östersundom to discuss the project.
At an open residents’ meeting, Helen’s small modular nuclear power project and its progress were presented. During the event, Helen’s experts gave presentations on the background of the project, its timetable, plant technology, and potential locations, as well as the environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure. In addition, representatives of the City of Helsinki and the Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) discussed the progress of zoning and the role of authorities at different stages of the project.
Following the introductory presentations, an open discussion was held during which participants had the opportunity to ask questions of the experts. The discussion focused in particular on the safety of the plant technology, location alternatives, environmental impacts, nuclear waste management, and the project’s economic and societal impacts. Participants also had the opportunity to continue discussions with the experts after the formal part of the event and to submit written comments for the purposes of the environmental impact assessment.
The final decision on the placement of the facility at the sites under consideration will be made by the Helsinki City Council, after which Helen may proceed with investment and construction decisions. Helen’s objective is to build an SMR facility with a district heating capacity of 400–500 MW in one of the alternative areas. The facility may consist of one or several reactors.