First Reading of the Draft Act on the Amendment of the Subsoil Act (435 SE)
Session: Fifteenth Riigikogu, fourth session, plenary session
Date: 2024-09-11 21:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 41
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 39m
AI Summaries: 41/41 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The review of Draft Act 435 amending the Earth's Crust Act has been presented. Its goal is to halt the processing of new oil shale mining permit applications and environmental impact assessments until the end of 2025, in order to prioritize the use of existing reserves and transition to a cleaner economic model. The draft act stipulates that the suspension of issuing permits or extending their validity will last until 2026, with exceptions allowing the continuation of proceedings for extensions of mining claims or other compatible amendments that do not increase the quantity of oil shale reserves to be mined. Furthermore, the drafting of the Climate-Resilient Economy Act and the Energy Sector Development Plan is planned to ensure a clear transition from oil shale energy to a cleaner economy and to integrate climate neutrality objectives into strategic documents. The draft is part of a broader plan for change, encompassing both the energy sector and environmental regulatory frameworks, as well as funding through the Just Transition Fund.
Alongside the discussions, the draft's impact on businesses, local governments, and the state budget was also addressed, and ways to manage the burdens incurred during the transition period were debated. It was also highlighted that the drafting of the Climate-Resilient Economy Act and the Energy Sector Development Plan is underway, and these areas will define the future directions and timeline for oil shale energy and mining. The overall objective is to clarify the uses of oil shale and reduce the pollution burden and dependence on fossil resources, thereby fulfilling the climate and economic goals set out in the Estonia 2035 strategy.
Decisions Made 1
The first reading of Bill 435 was concluded. Motions to reject the first reading of the Act Amending the Earth's Crust Act (a joint proposal by the Isamaa faction and the Estonian Centre Party factions) were not adopted; the voting result was 11 in favor, 43 against. Consequently, the first reading was concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments remains September 25th at 17:15.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Arvo Aller (ID UgFd274QJi4), representing the EKRE faction. He represented the right-wing political orientation, and his involvement highlighted a strong interest in articulating criticism regarding the accelerated procedure and the absence of impact assessments, as well as putting forward proposals concerning the scheduling of procedures and the compensation for economic effects.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman announces the eighth item on today's agenda: Draft Act 435 on the amendment of the Earth's Crust Act, initiated by the Government. He calls upon Climate Minister Yoko Alender to present the bill and stresses the importance of clearly marking requests to speak, following which the agenda item will proceed to the next one.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender introduced a draft amendment to the Subsoil Act, which suspends the proceedings for applications for new oil shale mining permits and environmental impact assessments until January 1, 2026. This measure is intended to utilize existing mineral resources and steer the Estonian economy onto a clean, climate-resilient path, including the termination of oil shale energy production starting in 2036 and the complete cessation of its use by 2040, along with clearly defined exceptions for specific businesses and local municipalities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the Minister, confirms that he does indeed have questions, and invites Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme is accusing the government of pushing anti-business policies, arguing that suspending mining permits and preventing the opening of new mines are unreasonable. She went on to call the idea of climate neutrality "uhhuu" (nonsense), emphasizing that these decisions are stifling real economic activity and reducing the value of the just transition funding. She simultaneously demanded to know why these decisions are being implemented.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
The Riigikogu has established the goal of climate neutrality in the Estonia 2035 strategy and the core principles of climate policy. Although oil shale has played a significant role throughout history, the transition to a clean economy must take place gradually and be supported by a solid legal framework, which this draft bill helps to implement.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasizes that the coordination table includes the represented interest groups—Viru Keemia Grupp and Kiviõli Keemiatööstus OÜ, as well as the Estonian Chamber of Environmental Organizations and Päästame Eesti Metsad MTÜ (Save Estonian Forests NGO)—and asks whether the ministers have personally sat down at the table with them and what their main concerns regarding the draft legislation are.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar calls Lauri Laats to the podium.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender confirms that she did not engage with interest groups during the drafting of the law, and the bill was presented to the Environment Committee, where, as a member of the Riigikogu, she heard its background.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Arvo Aller to the stage.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to Arvo Aller, the explanatory memorandum and the coordination table lack a clear socio-economic impact assessment, and he calls on the minister and relevant agencies to meet again with entrepreneurs to discuss and evaluate the impact of reducing oil shale mining volumes.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender announced that the processing of the draft bill will be suspended until the Riigikogu has formulated a position regarding the climate-resilient economy act and the trajectory for exiting oil shale, in order to prevent work and signals from moving in the wrong direction, even though preparations have been completed and the bill has been submitted to the committee, and there is no socio-economic impact, as this constitutes a temporary halt.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman asks Helle-Moonika Helme to come forward and speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme criticized the lack of an impact analysis and a development intention plan accompanying the fast-tracked permits. She also questioned whether the state would compensate entrepreneurs for the costs of their significant time and financial outlay.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar’s speech is short, but it’s a clear call to action—now is your time to act.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This is their current time- and resource-intensive process, as you yourselves have said.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
This bill is designed to ensure that businesses do not have to incur unnecessary costs and that civil servants' working hours are not wasted.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar asks Lauri Laats to come forward.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats criticized the minister for failing to meet with interest groups and for processing the draft bill without taking into account the proposals listed in the coordination table. He then asked what had actually been considered and how this would affect the operations and investments of companies in the sector in the long term.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
The bill, however, offers a dose of reality and a clearer perspective, halting the processing of new mining permits and emphasizing that oil shale is a common asset of the entire state, the use of which will be decided taking into account the knowledge of global scientists, ongoing trends, and the impact of a climate-resilient economy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar addresses his colleague Arvo Aller and asks him for something.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller asks whether the reduction in the workload related to reviewing permits would entail cutting the personnel of the Environmental Board as part of the 10% reduction, and what compensations or support measures have been planned for companies whose assessments have already begun.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Minister of Climate Yoko Alender thanks the Chair and the questioner, notes that she briefly lost her train of thought, and wishes to ask a question.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks for the microphone to be returned so that Arvo Aller can clarify his question.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that the question was like several questions rolled into one.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Arvo Aller to speak by way of exception.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller said there were actually two simple questions, and he asked if the Environmental Board was included in that 10 percent.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender’s speech expresses strong, affirmative agreement, repeatedly saying "yes" and "that’s right."
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The second point addressed in the speech was the compensation of costs.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
In her new role, Climate Minister Yoko Alender stresses that the Environmental Board must scale back its operations due to the budget cuts, and businesses must take into account existing legislation and long-term policies, such as Estonia 2035 and the fundamentals of climate policy, which have been in force for years.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the Minister and says that I have no further questions for you.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender thanked the audience.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Mait Klaassen, a member of the Environment Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum to present the discussion that took place in the Environment Committee.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
On June 3, 2024, the Environment Committee discussed the draft act on amending the Earth's Crust Act. The committee heard Minister Kristen Michal's answers to questions concerning suspensions, the processing of future permits, and socio-economic impacts, noted approximately one billion tons of active oil shale usable reserves in Ida-Viru County, and emphasized the need for cleaner production capabilities. It subsequently decided to place the draft act on the plenary session agenda for September 11, 2024, conclude the first reading, and appoint Mait Klaassen as the lead committee member.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the presenter and notes there are no questions.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mait Klaassen thanks the audience.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar opens the debate on the first reading, invites the representatives of the factions to the Riigikogu podium, and calls upon Lauri Laats to speak on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats pointed out that the draft legislation is hostile to the company, criticizing the lack of transparency in the minister's approvals and the use of the 'taken note of' stance. He also emphasized the uncertainty in the business environment, where changes to the subsurface law, against the backdrop of the climate law proceedings, are causing hesitation among investors, which is why the Centre Party faction wishes to reject the bill during the first reading.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
On behalf of the faction, the Riigikogu is requested to grant Arvo Aller the right to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller expressed strong opposition to the hasty and non-consultative bill, which temporarily suspends the processing of permits, creates uncertainty for businesses, and increases the costs of environmental impact assessments and the threat to jobs. He called on the minister and officials to listen more closely to entrepreneurs and to explain their rationale for the sake of an inclusive decision-making process.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar declared the debate closed, announced that the lead committee's proposal to conclude the first reading of Bill 435 remains valid, and added that the Isamaa and Estonian Centre Party factions had submitted identical motions to reject the first reading, which the Riigikogu was called upon to vote on.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Eleven members of the Riigikogu voted in favor of the proposal, 43 were against, and there were no abstentions; the first reading of Bill 435 has been concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments is September 25th at 17:15.