Jyri Häkämies (cons), the Finnish defence minister, told the Finnish Broadcasting Company (YLE) on Saturday that the construction of new nuclear power generating capacity was the most important single issue facing the government.

Speaking days before the government was to debate the nuclear power issue, Mr Häkämies went on to defend his party's line to grant approval to all three utilities planning building nuclear power stations in Finland.

By contrast, the Centre party has argued for a single permit.

"It is very difficult to compromise on this line as the National Coalition party has consistently and firmly supported three permits," Mr Häkämies told the public broadcaster.

"It is an extremely big issue for us."

He added that Finland could not afford to reject a single nuclear power station permit application if the country wanted to respect its carbon dioxide emissions reduction obligations.

STT