Several foreign companies, including the French nuclear giant Cogema, have applied for the rights to test drill in Finland's mineral-rich rock beds.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry says it has received hundreds of letters with thousands of signatures from people opposed to uranium mining. The Green League notes that uranium mining is devastating to the surrounding environment, such as polluting groundwater.
It may also harm local economies by harming tourism and driving out local residents. Foreign companies are especially interested in prospective mining in Eno and Kontiolahti in eastern Finland, just north of Joensuu.
