Finnish forests can withstand new bioproduct plant: Rinne

Protecting the carbon sinks due to climate reasons will not prevent the progress of a giant bioproduct mill planned in Kemi, said the chair of Suomen Sosialidemokraattinen Puolue (Social Democratic Party of Finland -SDP) Antti Rinne in an interview with national broadcaster Yle.

Metsä Group revealed on Friday plans to build a 1.5 billion euro giant factory to replace the old pulp mill.

According to the company, the final investment decision will be influenced by what the future government will decide on the use of forests.

Rinne who is most likely to become the next Prime Minister told Yle TV 1 that the increase in the amount of logging required by the new plant can be achieved in a sustainable manner.

Rinne believes the harvesting levels will be able to sustain the planned bioproduct mill.

The views of Rinne in regard to forest harvesting has aroused a lot of interest since previous he has made contradictory statements on the matter, said the report.

On Friday Rinne submitted policy questions to all parliamentary parties as the first stage of forming a new government under SDP leadership.

He filed the questions after a meeting of the parties had assigned him with the task of ascertaining the would-be coalition composition.

One of the main concerns Rinne raised was how the parties would strengthen the services of the welfare society and finance them.

The list of eleven questions also included whether the recipient is committed to halting global warming by 1.5 degrees and to making Finland carbon neutral by 2035 and soon thereafter carbon negative.