Issues relating to the energy sector were discussed in the Riigikogu

Members of the Riigikogu Urmas Reinsalu, Riina Solman and Priit Sibul submitted an interpellation concerning the energy sector (No. 724) to Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

The interpellators wanted to know why the government had started making individual decisions with far-reaching effects in the energy sector, violating the principle that long-term decisions in the energy sector are made on the basis of the energy sector development plan, the draft of which is still in the approval phase.

Michal explained that, in the energy sector, the new coalition had agreed on a common goal to ensure security of supply and economic competitiveness. “To this end, we are initiating a designated spatial plan for a nuclear power plant, which was questionable or would not have succeeded in the previous coalition. We are announcing a call for tenders for onshore wind farms,” Prime Minister said. This is necessary to obtain higher added value, so that our industries are export-capable, and so that there is more affordable and clean energy. “The goal is, of course, to reduce our dependence on imported energy and fossil fuels. The concern with fossil fuels, in addition to pollution, is their very high price,” Michal said. 

He pointed out Finland as an example that we needed both renewable and nuclear energy to get more affordable electricity. “However, building a nuclear power plant is a long process. Even if you act very quickly – this is a rough estimate – it will take about 10-15 years,” Michal stated.  According to him, this means that wind can produce affordable and clean energy for us in the meantime. “Therefore, we will move forward with a designated spatial plan for a nuclear power plant, as well as with a call for tenders for onshore wind farms, and we will create regulation and opportunities for the further development of storage,” Michal said.

He also noted that Estonia definitely needed new external electricity connections, because the stronger Estonia is connected to neighbouring countries, the safer we can feel. “We also definitely need more connections from a market or electricity trading perspective,” Michal noted.

He emphasised that electricity would be generated where it was cheapest at the time, and electricity generated in that way would also reach places where it would be impossible to generate cheap electricity at the time. Estonia needs more transmission capacity both in the north and south directions, Michal said. 

Michal also replied to the interpellation concerning continuing as Prime Minister (No. 728).

Minister of Energy and the Environment Andres Sutt replied to the interpellation concerning the security of energy supply (No. 717), offshore wind farms (No. 722) and the cormorant population that has exploded in numbers (No. 725).

The interpellators withdrew from the proceedings the interpellation concerning a minister lacking authorization to access NATO classified information  (No. 727), submitted to Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, Anti Poolamets, Lauri Läänemets and Vladimir Arhipov took the floor during the open microphone.

The sitting ended at 8.04 p.m.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

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Riigikogu Press Service
Gunnar Paal, +372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
gunnar.paal@riigikogu.ee
Questions: press@riigikogu.ee

Link uudisele: Issues relating to the energy sector were discussed in the Riigikogu

Source: Parliament of Estonia