Bothnia Wind project

Raahen Satama Oy (Port of Raahe Ltd.) is a port in the City of Raahe on the Bothnian Bay’s coast. The port consists of three harbours: Lapaluoto, Deep harbour and SSAB industrial harbour, the latter exclusively for SSAB operations. The main cargo types include steel, timber, containers, chemicals and bulk cargo. Raahen Satama also provides services like areal leasing, vessel services and area maintenance.

Several offshore wind farm projects near Raahen Satama are in the permitting phase, with construction expected to start in the next decade. The port plans to develop its infrastructure by constructing a new quay, Deep Quay 3 in the Deep harbour. This will create an efficient transport chain for wind turbines and increase the port’s capacity for other cargo. Raahen Satama’s current customers have expressed interest in using Deep Quay 3 for large vessels, and it will be ready for shore-side electricity installation.

To meet the growing demand, Raahen Satama plans to extend and further develop the port. The planned investments include:

• Construction of a new 173 meter long deep quay (Deep Quay 3) in the Deep harbour of the port, including dredging
• An attached 6-hectare assembly field, including asphalting and lightning
• A confined deposit basin

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) and water permits on the extension of the Raahen Satama was completed in 2023. According to the project EIA and the water permit, the most significant risk for negative environmental impacts of the planned investments includes the impact on water quality due to the increase in water turbidity during dredging and dumping and its potential indirect negative impact on fish and fishery, birds and flora. The dredging, dumping and rock explosion at the quay area will also cause underwater noise impacts. Within the scope of NIB´s sustainability review, it will be ensured that necessary mitigation measures to reduce these risks will be implemented.

NIB welcomes comments on the project in question.

Seppo Vehkaoja, CEO, Raahen Satama Oy, seppo.vehkaoja@raahe.fi

NIB contact information: info@nib.int / “A project” in subject field

Nordic Investment Bank
Sustainability and Mandate Unit
P.O. Box 249
FI-00171 Helsinki
Finland