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RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN
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DE RUEHHE #0012/01 0101306
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 101306Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HELSINKI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3986
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HELSINKI 000012 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
OES FOR WIREC ACTION GROUP LEADER STAN SPECHT AND OES 
SPECIAL ASSISTANT CAMILLE HILL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ENRG SENV TRGY EPET EAID SOCI KSCA KGHG KPAO
OPDC, FI 
SUBJECT: FINLAND TO SEND A STRONG DELEGATION TO WIREC 
 
REF: SECSTATE 00559 
 
¶1. (SBU) Econoff delivered the formal invitation for the 
Washington International Conference on Renewal Energy (WIREC) 
to Mr. Henri Backman, Senior Advisor to the Minister in 
Finland's newly-created super Ministry of Employment and the 
Economy.  A strong advocate of renewable energy sources, 
Minister of the Economy Mauri Pekkarinen plans to attend 
WIREC with a delegation of senior officials who cover energy 
issues for the Government of Finland.  According to Backman, 
Minister Pekkarinen would welcome an opportunity to speak on 
either R&D or Agriculture/Rural Development topics during the 
conference. 
 
¶2. (U) Finland already generates approximately 25 percent of 
its energy from renewable resources (85 percent from 
bioenergy ) mostly wood) and this figure is expected to rise 
to 35 percent during the next decade.  The GOF is also 
aggressively funding biofuel R&D projects that will hopefully 
help Finland decrease its greenhouse gas emissions while 
further diversifying its overall energy mix. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Anticipated GOF delegates to WIREC: 
 
Mr. Mauri Pekkarinen, Minister of the Economy 
 
Mr. Mikko Alkio, State Secretary, Ministry of Employment and 
the Economy 
 
Mr. Taisto Turunen, Director General, Energy Department, 
Ministry of Employment and the Economy 
Ms. Sirkka Vilkamo, Deputy Director General, Head of 
Renewables and Energy Efficiency Division, Ministry of 
Employment and the Economy 
 
Mr. Henri Backman, Senior Advisor to the Minister, Ministry 
of Employment and the Economy 
 
¶4. (SBU) The Department might also consider sending WIREC 
invitations to the following private sector officials 
representing leading renewable energy companies in Finland: 
 
Ms. Arja Koski 
Fortum Corporation 
P.O. Box 1 
FI-00048 FORTUM 
Finland 
 
Mr. Juha Poikola 
Pohjolan Voima Oy 
Toolonkatu 4, P.O. Box 40 
FI-00101 Helsinki 
Finland 
 
Mr. Matti Hilli 
Vapo Oy 
P.O. Box 22 
FI-40101 Jyvaskyla 
Finland 
 
Mr. Jukka Leskela and Mr. Jari Kostama 
Energiateollisuus ry 
Finnish Energy Industries 
P.O. Box 100 
FI-00101 Helsinki 
Finland 
 
Mr. Stefan Sundman 
Metsateollisuus ry 
Finnish Forest Industries Federation 
P.O. Box 336 
FI-00171 Helsinki 
Finland 
 
Ms. Tellervo Kyla-Harakka-Ruonala 
Elinkeinoelaman Keskusliitto ry 
Confederation of Finnish Industries, EK 
P.O. Box 30 
FI-00131 Helsinki 
Finland 
 
Mr. Pekka-Juhani Kuitto 
Suomen Bioenergiayhdistys ry 
Bioenergy Association of Finland, FINBIO 
Vapaudenkatu 12 
FI-40100 Jyvaskyla 
Finland 
 
 
HELSINKI 00000012  002 OF 002 
 
 
Mr. Jaakko Silpola 
Turveteollisuusliitto ry 
Association of Finnish Peat Industries 
Vapaudenkatu 12 
FI-40100 Jyvaskyla 
Finland 
HYATT