Two significant changes were highlighted in the operations of 2008: reform of the security of supply organisation and the new Government decision regarding the security of supply objectives. They provided a new direction for developing operations. The amendment to the Act governing the security of supply entered into force on 1 July 2008; pursuant to this amendment, the organisations of the National Emergency Supply Agency and the National Board of Economic Defence were merged. The Board of Directors is the highest body directing and supervising operations. Its members now include representatives of industry and commerce. The proposal for the new Government decision regarding the security of supply objectives, prepared in the security of supply organisation, was confirmed on 21 August 2008. The new decision now contains a more unambiguous and detailed division between, on the one hand, the critical objectives of securing national infrastructure, and, on the other, securing the critical production.

The operations were focused on the proposal drawn up in 2006 to merge the National Emergency Supply Agency with the National Board of Economic Defence (NBED). The National Emergency Supply Agency would take responsibility for all of NBED’s valid preparedness plans and agreements concluded with industry and commerce, i.e. pool agreements, and the other committees and working groups set up by the PTS. The aim is for the legislation to come into force on 1 July 2008. Questions relating to energy were also highlighted in the operations in 2007. In order to guarantee electricity production during peak consumption, i.e. in extremely low temperatures, the Reserve Power Act came into force. The National Emergency Supply Agency’s new high security server hotel began operations at the start of the year.

During the year, energy-related issues were particularly topical. The most crucial problem was the capacity to generate electricity. Ensuring the security of supply for commercial shipping became a topic of public interest as there were changes in ownership within the industry. The role of the NESA in Finland’s preparations for the threat of a pandemic was brought to the planned level during the year. Most of the available funding was used for purchasing pharmaceuticals.

Surprises are an inevitable element of safeguarding the security of supply, because threats and disturbances cannot always be predicted. The threat of a pandemic increased to such proportions that the procurement of pharmaceuticals and other preparedness arrangements had to be substantially increased last year. A similar unpredicted security of supply measure was Finland’s participation in the collective action for calming down the oil markets after the destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina.

Presentation by Mr. Mika Purhonen (Director General, National Emergency Supply Agency) at the 3rd EAPC/PfP Workshop on Critical Infrastrukture Protection and Civil Emergency Planning in Zurich, 22 - 24 September 2005.

SCEPC Plenary in EAPC Format, Helsinki 25-26 April, 2005