Updated EIA program presented – public event held on June 4, 2024 in Kokkola
The previous environmental impact assessment (EIA) program for Flexens Oy Ab’s ammonia production plant was published on 23.8.2023. The updated program now replaces the one published in August 2023. A public event on the subject was held at Matkustajakoti Ykspihlaja in Kokkola on Tuesday, 4.6, from 19-21, which was also accessible online.
The event started with an opening speech by Elina Venetjoki from the ELY Centre, followed by presentations from Flexens (Jim Häggblom and Aki Ilonen), Kokkola Energy Networks (Markus Kekolahti), and the project's environmental consultant Envineer (Toni Uusimäki and Aada Elshof). Other participants included Isla Hämäläinen from the South Ostrobothnia ELY Centre, Heidi Keto-Tokoi from Kokkola Energy, Kokkola Energy consultant Mikko Rintamäki, and Anniina Hallasuo from Envineer.
The project is regionally significant in many ways. It positively impacts the local economy through growth and employment. Air emissions will decrease as waste heat and steam from the plant are fed into Kokkola Energy’s district heating and steam network. Additionally, the project supports the development of the national hydrogen economy network.
"Interest in the production of green hydrogen and ammonia has grown. Ammonia is an essential raw material globally, and for Finnish industry and agriculture. The demand for ammonia is also increasing in maritime transport, where it is expected to help reduce emissions. Currently, no ammonia is produced in Finland, and this project will enhance Finland's self-sufficiency and security of supply," says project manager Jim Häggblom from Flexens.
"There are currently about 45 ammonia production plants in Europe, with an average age of about 50 years. They produce about 15 million tons of ammonia annually, and their production is based on fossil gas," Häggblom explains.
"The updated EIA program includes a new alternative with increased hydrogen production capacity and a power line included in the project. The power line aims to serve the electricity needs of other operators in the Kokkola large industrial area. As technical design progresses, the layout of the plant area has changed from the previous EIA. Additionally, the amount of cooling water has increased," Häggblom continues.
"The most significant impacts of the project are initially assessed to be the increased thermal load on the marine area due to cooling waters and the impacts on people, particularly the visual impacts of the power line and ammonia tanks placed on the breakwater as well as the safety impacts in risk and exceptional situations. The updated EIA program is available from 29.5-27.6.2024," says the project's environmental consultant, lead expert Toni Uusimäki from Envineer.
After the presentations, time was reserved for discussion, and the presenters answered questions from the audience and those participating via Teams.
Discussion and Comments
Audience Question: How does the warm water discharged into the sea affect marine life? Why must the water be discharged into the sea? The effects of the water discharged into the sea are concerning.
Envineer: The discharge point can be seen on the map (at the end of the breakwater) and the surrounding depth contours. The discharge point is located next to the deep-water channel. The heated cooling water mixes quickly with the seawater, so the increase in seawater temperature would be mainly limited to the front of the discharge pipe. The temperature increase would be just a few degrees. Previously presented thermal load models will be updated to reflect the situations presented in the program.
Flexens: Details of the thermal load modeling were presented at an additional public event held on February 20. According to the models, the temperature increase in the water would primarily affect the immediate surroundings of the discharge point. Additionally, to the west of the planned discharge point, there is a relatively wide deep-water channel with little aquatic vegetation. Further clarification on the modeling of the thermal load in the seawater will be provided later during the reporting phase. The aim is to utilize as much waste heat as possible throughout the year.
Audience Question: Has the possibility of utilizing waste heat to keep the deep harbor open in winter been studied? In that case, the (eastern) discharge point for Umicore’s wastewater would be in a different location.
Flexens: This has not yet been studied. The waste steam generated will be utilized in Kokkola Energy's steam network. Waste steam can also be used to produce electricity if it is not otherwise utilized.
Audience Question: Can the route of the power line be moved to go through the sea to the large industrial area?
Kokkola Energy Networks: During the preliminary planning phase, this option was also considered. However, the design of the power line has aimed to utilize existing corridors as much as possible, as this option requires the least new space. Routing the power line through the sea would require a sea or aerial cable. Both options would make crossing the sea area very challenging, as electricity transmission through the sea would reduce the transmission capacity (by up to 30%), significantly increase costs (up to tenfold), and pose risks to maritime traffic in the area. Additionally, there would be more private land along the route of the sea-routed power line west of the large industrial area.
Audience Question: Could the planned offshore wind turbines in the Kokkola sea area be connected to Kokkola port and the large industrial area?
Kokkola Energy Networks: The planned wind turbines will not extend to the large industrial area but are located further west. Therefore, the wind turbines cannot be connected to the large industrial area.
EPO-ELY: There are currently two active EIA procedures related to wind power projects. In the first project, the sea cables are planned for Uusikaarlepyy and Pietarsaari, and in the second project, for Kokkola.
Audience Question: Have the wind turbines near the large industrial area in Kokkola been considered in the noise modeling?
Envineer: All wind turbines in Kokkola (industrial area) have been included in the joint noise area modeling and noise impact assessment.
Audience Question: Where else does Flexens have factories?
Flexens: Flexens does not currently have factories but has several projects both in Finland and abroad.
Audience Question: Where is the imported hydrogen coming from?
Flexens: It remains to be seen. Currently, preparations are being made to import hydrogen from elsewhere.
Audience Question: What prevents selling all the waste heat for district heating? Why must the water be discharged into the sea?
Flexens: Kokkola Energy's heat demand is quite low during the summer season, so they cannot take all the waste heat.
Audience Question: How much energy does the factory use per day? How many single-family homes does this amount of energy correspond to? What will happen if there is an energy shortage? Will the operation of the factory affect the price of electricity?
Flexens: The price of electricity will not increase for Kokkola residents. There is no exact number of single-family homes (in terms of electricity consumption).
Kokkola Energy Consultant: With a quick calculation, the daily electricity consumption of the factory would correspond to the daily electricity consumption of about 150 000–200 000 single-family homes.
Audience Question: How can a good ecological status be achieved for the Kokkola coastal area by 2027 when projects continuously burden the waters unnecessarily? Will the waste that cannot be utilized be cleaned and disposed of in the best possible way?
Envineer: The assessment of the ecological status of the marine area is part of the project's assessment report and is influenced by several factors, including the cumulative effects of the large industrial area. Based on the assessment and the consideration of cumulative effects, it can be evaluated whether the Flexens project alone or in combination with other effects would negatively impact the goal of achieving good ecological status by 2027.
Audience Question: The air quality charts presented extend only to 2021. Are there no more recent data on air quality? Several projects have started in the last three years that have worsened air quality.
Envineer: The air quality charts and data come from reports available from the city of Kokkola. There are newer reports after 2021, which will be used during the reporting phase of the project.
Audience Question: How will the resident survey be conducted? Will it target holiday properties as well? Where will information about the resident survey be provided?
Envineer: Holiday residents will definitely be included in the resident survey. The survey will be conducted so that everyone interested can participate. More detailed information about the resident survey will be provided when it becomes relevant. The survey will be announced to at least the Ykspihlaja Residents’ Association and the Sannanranta Villa Association. The survey will also be announced on the Flexens Kokkola website and in local newspapers.
Audience Question: Is Flexens genuinely ready to invest in minimizing all harms?
Flexens: Yes.
Audience Question: How large is this investment for Kokkola Energy Networks?
Kokkola Energy Networks: The current investments have mainly focused on project planning. If the construction of the line and substation begins, the investment will be over 20 million. More detailed cost estimates will be seen at a later stage.
Audience Question: How was the Ykspihlaja pond formed? Can the Ykspihlaja pond be preserved or compensated in some way?
Envineer: Based on old aerial photographs, the Ykspihlaja pond appears to have originally been a spoil disposal area that over time has formed into a wetland. Currently, the pond is quite shallow and reed-filled. Based on the bird migration and nesting counts, the pond is no longer considered as ornithologically valuable as before. Its ornithological value is currently quite low. The bird data from the MAALI project (= regionally important bird areas) dates from the early 2000s.
There are strong land use pressures in the pond area, and the factory area is expected to expand into the pond area. For the factory, it is unlikely that the Ykspihlaja pond can be preserved, but alternative options for compensation can be considered.
Updated EIA Program for the project: