Fortum

Imatran Voima (1932–1997)

The predecessor of Fortum was Imatran Voima (IVO), which was founded in 1932 to operate the Imatrankoski hydroelectric power plant in Imatra.^[3]

The construction of the Imatra power plant began already in 1922 as well as the power lines from Imatra to Helsinki and the power plant was opened in May 1929.^[3] Finnish Government made a decision to establish Imatran Voima Osakeyhtiö (IVO) in May 1932.^[3]

Imatran Voima acquired and built a number of other power plants, such as the largest hydroelectric power plants along the Oulujoki river, Ingå and Naantali coal-fired powerplants and the Loviisa nuclear power plant.^{[citation needed]}

In 1997, a merger agreement was made between Neste and IVO.^[3]

1998–2010

Fortum Corporation was founded in 1998. It was created from the merging of Imatran Voima and Neste Oy, the Finnish national oil company.^[4]

In 2003, Fortum bought parts of Fredrikstad Energi and Fredrikstad Energi Nett in a swap deal with E.ON.^[5]

In 2005 most of Neste's assets were divested into a separate stock-listed company Neste Oil.^[6]

In 2007, Fortum acquired 25.66% stake in TGK-1, operating in northwest Russia.^[7] In 2008, Fortum privatized the natural gas, power and heat generation company TGK-10 (now: OAO Fortum [fi]), operating in central and northern Russia.^[8]

2011–2021

In 2011, Fortum sold its 25% stake in the Finnish transmission system operator Fingrid.^[9] In December 2013 Fortum announced the sale of its distribution network in Finland to Suomi Power Networks (later named Caruna), owned by First State Investments (40%), Borealis Infrastructure (40%), Keva (12,5%) and LähiTapiola (7,5%).^[10]

In 2012, Fortum shared the number one position in the Carbon Disclosure Project's Nordic climate index.^[11]

In 2013, Fortum opened two new CHP utilities using waste as a fuel in Klaipėda, Lithuania,^[12] and Brista [sv], Sweden^[13] as well as new biomass-fuelled CHP plants in Jelgava, Latvia,^[14] and Järvenpää, Finland.^[15] In June, Fortum acquired a 5 MW solar power plant in the state of Rajasthan in India.^[16] In September Fortum signed an agreement with Rosatom and British Rolls-Royce Engines to develop nuclear power.^[17]

In 2014 Fortum sold its Norwegian electricity distribution network and also its stakes in Fredrikstad Energi and Fredrikstad Energi Nett to the Hafslund Group. The heat business was sold to iCON Infrastructure Partners II, L.P. fund.^[18] Since 2015 the electrical distribution network in Sweden is owned by Ellevio.^{[citation needed]}

In 2015 Fortum connected its first greenfield solar park, under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) Phase II initiative, in Madhya Pradesh.^[19][20]

In 2015, Fortum completed the divestment of its electricity distribution network in Sweden, thus completing the divestment of electricity distribution business.^{[citation needed]} In 2016, Fortum acquired Grupa DUON S.A, an electricity and gas sales company in Poland, and Ekokem Corporation, a leading Nordic circular economy company specialised in material and waste recycling, final disposal solutions, soil remediation and environmental construction.^{[citation needed]}

In 2017, the 100 MW plant in Pavagada solar park was connected to the grid. It was the first of a series of planned gigawatt-scale plants facilitated by reverse auctions in India.^[21] In September, Fortum announced it would buy E.ON's 47% stake in German power company Uniper.^[22] Fortum increased its stake to 75% in spring 2020.^[23] Uniper mainly uses oil, natural gas and coal to supply electricity.^[24]

In 2020 Fortum and Kværner informed that they would cooperate on a Carbon capture and storage project for waste incineration at Klemetsrud energigjenvinningsanlegg.^[25]

In 2020 Fortum was the biggest company in Finland by its revenue.^[26] The majority of its income came from Uniper^[27] that became Fortum's subsidiary in March 2020.^[28]

In 2021 Fortum sold its business in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania to Partners Group.^{[citation needed]}

Uniper divestment (2022)

On 21 September 2022, Fortum announced that Uniper is to be fully divested to the German state.^[29] Under the agreement, Uniper plans to issue 4.7 billion new ordinary registered shares, which the Federal Republic of Germany plans to subscribe at a nominal value of EUR 1.70 per share. The German state-owned KfW bank will provide Uniper with additional liquidity support as required until this EUR 8 billion capital increase is completed. Uniper was thus nationalised by Germany on the 21 September 2022 for 8 billion euros.^[30]

At completion of the capital increase, the Germans plans to buy all of Fortum's approximately 293 million shares in Uniper for EUR 1.70 per share, i.e. for a total of EUR 0.5 billion. At that point, change of control clause in the financing agreement will be triggered and the buyer will provide the financing for the redemption of Fortum's EUR 4 billion shareholder loan granted to Uniper and the release of the EUR 4 billion parent company guarantee.^{[citation needed]}

The parties have also agreed that Fortum will have a right of first offer in case Uniper intends to divest all or parts of its Swedish hydro and nuclear assets until the end of 2026.^{[citation needed]}

2023-present

In April 2023, Fortum's Russian assets were transferred under external management by decree of the President of Russia, as a response to the confiscation of Russian property in Europe. Fortum considered the decision illegal and wrote off assets from the balance sheet, recording a loss of 1.7 billion euros.^[31][32]

In July 2023 Russia announced it was changing the name of the Russian business to Forward Energo.^[33]

In February 2024 Fortum launched arbitration proceedings against Russia, seeking compensation for its assets seized by Russian authorities.^[34]

Hydropower

Hydropower is one of the most significant renewable electricity production form for Fortum.^[23] In 2021 Fortum owned or co-owned over 150 hydropower plants in Finland and Sweden, including power plants on the Dalälven, Indalsälven and Ljusnan rivers in central Sweden and on the Oulujoki, Kemijoki and Vuoksi rivers in Finland.^[35]

Nuclear power

In 2021 Fortum owned the nuclear power plant in Loviisa, Finland. Its nuclear assets also cover Sweden with a 43% share ownership in the Oskarshamn Nuclear Power Plant and 22% of three Forsmark Nuclear Power Plants. Furthermore, Fortum owns a 27% stake in the Teollisuuden Voima, which operates three nuclear power plants at Olkiluoto.^[36]

Combined production of heat and electric power (cogeneration or CHP)

Fortum produces and sells heat in Nordic countries, Russia and Poland, with 26 plants combining production of heat (district heating) and electric power. Fortum is the 5th largest heat producer globally.^{[citation needed]}

Electricity and heat sales

Fortum sells electricity, electricity products and services to 1.3 million customers in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Poland. In 2014, Fortum closed its 1,000 MW coal power plant at Ingå (Finland) and demolished it in 2020.^[37] The company also owns and operates about 1,200 km (750 mi) of district heat network in Finland, 2,400 km (1,500 mi) in Sweden, 860 km (530 mi) in Poland and 480 km (300 mi) in Russia.^{[citation needed]}

Solar power

The company has stated that its ambition is to build a small photo-voltaic solar portfolio to gain experience in different solar technologies and in operating in the Indian power market.^[38] Fortum also sells solar power kits in the Nordic countries.^{[citation needed]}

Recycling and waste solutions

Fortum provides environmental management and material efficiency services in the Nordics. Services include recycling, reutilisation, and final disposal solutions, as well as soil remediation and environmental construction services.^{[citation needed]}