With its pristine forests and lakes and reputation for environmental awareness, Finland seems an unlikely candidate to set off a resurrection of nuclear power, but that is exactly what environmentalists fear if parliament votes in favor of the proposal.

"It's quite an important decision. For so many years no power stations have been constructed, and it will send an important signal," Peer de Rijk of the Amsterdam-based anti-nuclear group World Information Service on Energy told AFP.

Most countries' plans to construct nuclear power plants, including Finland's, were shelved following the Chernobyl disaster in 1986.

Recent polls show that a slight majority of Finland's 200 parliamentarians are in favour of building a new reactor, but the outcome of Friday's vote remains uncertain.

A survey by leading daily Helsingin Sanomat indicated that 92 members of parliament were for the idea and 82 were against, while 26 were undecided.

Another poll by a group of newspapers in central Finland showed 97 MPs were in favour and 92 against.

"For the nuclear lobbyists, a favorable decision will be very much welcome, and will of course be used for propaganda purposes," de Rijk said.

The vote comes as many European countries, notably Sweden and Germany, prepare to phase out nuclear power.

However, energy shortages and international accords obliging countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions have forced governments to reconsider the benefits of nuclear power.

Lacking viable alternatives, a number of countries, including Sweden, have opted to extend the life of their nuclear plants from 40 to 50 years instead of building new ones, thereby also increasing the profitability of nuclear power.

Experts have increasingly warned that Finland -- a relatively flat country devoid of any natural resources apart from vast forestland -- will face power shortages if no new power plants are built.

"Our electricity consumption is growing and by 2010 we need to add 4,000 megawatts, but we have to do that without any carbon dioxide emissions," said Anneli Nikkula at TVO, the Finnish group planning to construct the new reactor.

"We have very little wind power in Finland, about 50 megawatts, and surveys show we can add about 10 times that by 2010. But it's not competitive on the open market and the government has to subsidize it," she said.

"We also have bio-energy, which produces both heat and electricity, but electricity demand is growing more than demand for heat, and bio-energy is so expensive that it is not cost-effective for only electricity production," Nikkula said.

"Since we cannot add hydro power and just some bio-energy and wind power, only half of the new demand can be met with renewable sources. One third to half of the new production must come from nuclear power," Nikkula concluded.

A recent survey conducted by Helsingin Sanomat showed that 48 percent of Finns were in favor of a new nuclear reactor if it would help curb carbon dioxide emissions, while 46 percent were against.

Earlier polls have shown that up to 57 percent favor nuclear power over increased greenhouse gas emissions.

The proposal also has the backing of Prime Minister Paavo Lipponen, a social democrat whose government voted in January in favor of building the fifth nuclear power plant.

Friday's vote will be particularly difficult for the Green League, a partner in Lipponen's five-party left-right coalition. Political observers say they expect the party to withdraw from the government if parliament votes in favor of a new nuclear reactor.

Currently, 28 percent of Finland's power supply comes from nuclear facilities. With a fifth nuclear reactor, this figure would rise to 35 percent, Nikkula said.

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