Fennovoima, whose owners include Finnish steel makers Outokumpu and Rautaruukki and German energy giant E.ON's Nordic arm, is looking to build a nuclear power plant either in Simo or Pyhaejoki on Finland's western coast or in Ruotsinpyhtaeae on the southern coast.

"Consideration of the application now submitted to the ministry by Fennovoima will commence once the ministry's environmental impact assessment statement has been issued," the ministry said in a statement.

Electricity producer Teollisuuden Voima (TVO) has already submitted a similar application to the ministry and energy group Fortum is also expected to hand in an application for a new nuclear reactor.

TVO has also commissioned Finland's fifth nuclear reactor, the world's first next generation pressurised water reactor, which is currently under construction in Olkiluoto in southwestern Finland by French firm Areva and Germany's Siemens.

The project has run into major delays and is now forecast to start producing electricity in 2012.

The ministry said it would consider all nuclear projects at the same time and would decide on a schedule during the spring.

Last May it said it expected the government to decide on the matter in early 2010.

However, it is unclear if the government and the parliament, which also has to approve the decision, would give permission to more than one new nuclear reactor.

Around 25 percent of electricity consumed in Finland is produced in nuclear power plants.

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