Fortum has reached a significant milestone by welcoming 250 employees to its new hydropower operations and maintenance team in Sweden and Finland.
About 10 years ago, Fortum outsourced its hydropower maintenance staff. In 2023, Fortum reviewed the possibility of reintegrating the maintenance staff, with the aim of increasing efficiency and fostering a stronger sense of ownership and community within the hydropower business. After completing the analysis in the summer of 2023, the decision was made to bring back the maintenance staff.
Through the integration of 250 new colleagues in Sweden and Finland, Fortum is taking a significant step toward more efficient and quality-driven operations with a community focus, according to a release. Fortum looks forward to further strengthening its market presence by actively recruiting local labor. The resources and expertise of the communities where Fortum operates are essential for ensuring smooth and efficient operation of its facilities, as well as for building strong relationships and creating positive impacts in the local communities, the company said.
“Operation and maintenance are critical parts of our core business. By integrating our hydropower facilities and staff within the same organization, we create a more cohesive and efficient working environment,” said Katarina Atteryd Eckerwall, head of Fortum’s hydropower facilities. “We hope and believe that this will increase our ability to address challenges, promote a safety culture, and enhance the quality of our operations and maintenance.”
The integration of new employees into Fortum’s organization also enables improved competence development and knowledge transfer in the hydropower sector. By gathering skilled technicians and experts under one roof, Fortum promotes learning and innovation, which are crucial to meeting the energy needs of the future.
A robust system relies on a good mix of fossil-free power sources and how different capacities are combined in the electricity system. Hydropower is central to the Nordic energy system, accounting for almost half of the Nordics electricity production. Therefore, it is crucial for Fortum to maintain the hydropower plants to continue strengthening the Nordic energy system.
Fortum delivers energy in Europe, with its core being “reliable and flexible production methods like nuclear power and hydro power.” The company also is investing in solar and wind power and investigating opportunities in clean hydrogen and new nuclear. In 2022, Fortum produced 44.2 TWh of electricity.
In April 2024, Hydro Review reported that Fortum is extensively modernizing the Malta hydropower plant in Uvån, in the municipality of Hagfors, Sweden. The company said this work is part of its efforts to secure and increase the production of clean energy.
