Ailangantunturi pumped storage power plant

A pumped storage plant will boost Kemijärvi’s local economy

The Ailangantunturi pumped storage power plant will bring new jobs already in the construction phase as well as permanent positions in the plant’s management and maintenance. The plant will also bring Kemijärvi millions of euros of income from real estate taxes, which will help to improve local and regional wellbeing. In addition, the pumped storage power plant enables new industrial investments and makes Finland – and Kemijärvi – more attractive to companies as an investment environment.

We are in close dialogue with our local and regional stakeholders and discuss the significance, implications and progress of the Ailangantunturi pumped storage power plant project. We will continue our dialogue, among others, with the city of Kemijärvi and land owners in the region.

The pumped storage power plant at Ailangantunturi: Environmental impact assessment (EIA) procedure

We have begun the EIA procedure concerning the pumped storage power plant and power line planned to be established at Ailangantunturi. The procedure aims to reduce or fully prevent any adverse environmental impacts as well as improve everyone’s chances of receiving information about, taking part in and having an influence on the project. All parties affected by the project can participate in the EIA procedure.

We work in close cooperation with the authorities. Besides the statutory EIA procedure, we established a monitoring group for the project. This will ensure that our stakeholders are informed about the project and the progress of the EIA.

During spring 2024, we created an EIA programme for the pumped storage power plant and power line project at Ailangantunturi. The programme is a plan outlining how the assessment of the project’s environmental impact will be carried out. The EIA programme provides a preliminary description of the present situation in the area, identifies the possible impacts of the project, and describes how the impacts will be assessed in more detail.

On 7 May 2024, we submitted the EIA programme to the Lapland ELY Centre, which acts as the coordinating authority. The EIA programme was available for viewing and opinions and statements on the programme could be submitted to the Lapland ELY Centre until 14 June 2024. We presented the EIA programme at a public event in the Council Chamber of the Kemijärvi City Hall.

We are currently conducting natural resource inventories and other assessments in accordance with the EIA programme. Concerning the Ailangantunturi pumped storage power plant and the 400-kilovolt power line, we will assess the impacts on, among others, surface waters and water management, soil and bedrock, groundwaters, fish stock and fishing, vegetation, wildlife and other natural assets in the area, conservation areas, reindeer husbandry, climate, air quality, and urban structure.

As part of the EIA regarding the pumped storage power plant project at Ailangantunturi, we conducted a resident survey in October 2024. The survey was open to all parties that could be affected by our pumped storage power plant project. With the survey, we want to ensure that we are aware of and consider all essential aspects regarding the use of the area as well as any insights on the possible impacts of the project.

Once the programme as well as the natural resource inventories and other assessments have been completed, Kemijoki Oy will create an EIA report that includes an impact assessment based on the natural resource inventories and other research conducted in accordance with the EIA programme. We will present the results of the natural resource inventories and other assessments at a public event during the spring of 2025.

The EIA procedure is planned to be completed during the late summer of 2025. It will act as a basis for permitting at a later stage of the project.