FINLAND TO SEND A STRONG DELEGATION TO WIREC

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