HELSINKI, December 4. /TASS/. Close cooperation between Russia and Finland in the energy sector, in particular in the area of peaceful use of nuclear energy, is absolutely natural, Finland’s Minister of Defense Carl Haglund said on Thursday.

“Finland has been closely cooperating with Russia on energy markets for a long time. It is absolutely natural,” he told the Kauppalehti newspaper, commenting on the decision of Finland’s Fortum to join the project of the Russian-Finnish Kanhikivi-1 nuclear plant and buy up to 15% of shares. On Friday, the Finnish parliament will vote on the issue of renewing licenses for the construction of this plant.

The Finnish government has set a condition that a license for the construction of this plant will be issued only in case Finland’s share in the project is 60% or more. By now, Finnish shareholders have 55.5% stake in the Hanhikivi-1 project. Fortum’s participation will make it possible to comply with this requirement.

It is planned that Russia’s Rosatom Overseas will supply a reactor with a capacity of 1,200 megawatt to the would-be nuclear plant. Construction works are likely to start in 2015. Finnish media estimated the project at €6-7 billion euro, of which Fennovoima is to invest €1.6 billion and Russia’s Rosatom — the rest of the sum.