Finnish energy agency says risk of power outages increased this northern winter

HELSINKI, Dec 1 (Reuters) - The risk of short power cuts increased in Finland due to uncertainty over domestic production and foreign imports, the national energy authority said on Thursday.

National grid operator Fingrid also warned of possible blackouts this northern winter, due in part to uncertainty surrounding the start-up date of the new Olkiluoto 3 nuclear reactor.

Adding to Finland's problem is the fact that neighboring Sweden, a major exporter of electricity, plans to shut down its largest nuclear reactor, Oskarshamn 3, for maintenance work between Dec. 9 and Dec. 18, while the Ringhals 4 reactor will remain offline until Jan. 31.

"Electricity supply in Finland is more uncertain than before in the coming winter," the energy authority said in a statement. "Several simultaneous failures in domestic production or transmission connections could lead to electricity shortages even on short notice."

Fingrid is currently striving to find ways to save energy, like its European counterparts, after cutting electricity, gas and oil imports from Russia.

The company, which estimates peak consumption of 14,400 megawatts (MW) this winter, said in a separate statement that consumers reduced energy consumption by 9% in November compared with a year earlier.

Companies and public sector players, with a combined peak flexibility capacity of about 200 MW, have voluntarily agreed to reduce power consumption if necessary to avoid the planned power cuts. (Reporting by Essi Lehto and Terje Solsvik; edited in English by Carlos Serrano)