Inquiry regarding phosphate mining plans (no. 664)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-12-09 18:57
Total Speeches: 51
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 56m
AI Summaries: 51/51 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the inquiry No. 664 concerning the investigation of phosphorite and rare earth metals at the Toolse deposit and potential future mining. The inquiry members were Jaak Valge, Ants Froschi, and Leo Kunnas, whose questions focused on the clarity of the legal basis for the investigation, the scope of research and development activities, the transparency of laboratory negotiations, and the further organization of environmental and community impact assessments. The discussion highlighted topics such as general geological research versus geological exploration for mineral resources, the potential and need for a concession mechanism, and the involvement of local community interests.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made. The Riigikogu concluded the agenda item without specific mining permits or other decisive steps, and awaits further preparation and clarification of the legal framework.
Most Active Speaker
The person with the most speaking time, or the most active speaker, is Jaak Valge (member of the Riigikogu, Reform Party). His participation and questions were of central importance in the context of the interpellation; officially, he is positioned on the right-wing of the political spectrum (right-wing).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
A member of the Riigikogu, Toomas Kivimägi, refers to the parliamentary inquiry submitted on 4 November 2024 regarding plans for phosphate mining (inquiry no. 664) and asks Jaak Valget, on behalf of the inquirers.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge noted that the license granted for the exploration of the Toolse phosphorite deposit appears to be based on a general geological survey, but according to the briefing note the aim is to find economically efficient and environmentally sustainable processing and separation of rare earth metals, which points to future mining; at the same time there is no public explanation, and secret negotiations are taking place with foreign laboratories and intentions that disregard the living and working conditions of local residents, therefore he raised questions and stressed the need for transparency.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar invited Climate Minister Yoko Alender to the Riigikogu dais to respond to an interpellation.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Before the Riigikogu, Climate Minister Yoko Alender stated that in Estonia multilateral negotiations with foreign laboratories will be held for future mineral resources, including phosphorite, for research and possible beneficiation tests; the process will be modeled and technological and economic preliminary studies will be carried out at both small and large scales; a thorough environmental impact assessment and a clear legal framework will be ensured, on the basis of which decisions will be made fairly and transparently without a mining decision having been made yet; and the involvement of local governments and residents and the public availability of information are priorities.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the minister and announces that questions will be put to him, initiated by his colleague Vladimir Arhipov.
Vladimir Arhipov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Vladimir Arhipov warns that the studies are merely a preliminary step for mining operations and recalls the harmful smoke effect associated with Maardu phosphate ore, asking whether new technologies can ensure that a similar situation does not recur.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender stressed that decisions must be based on research and science, old environmentally harmful practices are a thing of the past, and currently new technologies are being studied, and for future decision-makers, decision-making must be science-based.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar turns to Jaak Valge and asks.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge claims that although in 2014 a ban on phosphate mining was promised, the current coalition together with Eesti 200 is taking the opposite course, and he asks whether this is due to the influence of Eesti 200.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender emphasizes that Eesti 200 should speak up for itself and that their current studies have been initiated by the previous government and do not pose a threat to the local living environment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and asks Martin Helme to take the floor.
Martin Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Martin Helme notes that although it is said that nothing has been decided, the European Union is vigilant about Estonia's strategic minerals, especially phosphorite, and he demands a clear assurance that nothing has been given to anyone, that nothing is mined, and nothing is alienated.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that no decisions have been made yet, and the draft bill's aim is to set concrete conditions to prevent situations where some entrepreneur takes too large a role; for this, a new legal framework is being created.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invited Ants Froschi to speak.
Ants Frosch
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
In Ants Frosch's speech, emphasis was placed on the health and environmental hazards posed by phosphogypsum produced by the sulfuric acid processing of phosphorite ore, and it was asked whether this option in Estonia is off the table or still on the table, and if it is still on the table, whether the export of phosphogypsum from Estonia has been discussed.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
There are currently negotiations to study and test both hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid processing methods and to assess their environmental and economic feasibility, so that based on small-scale studies the following decisions can be made if mining becomes necessary.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Anti Poolametsa to perform.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker asks the minister how far along the development of the concession mechanism is in connection with the amendments to the law, and when its framework will be ready.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that the development plan, which is publicly available for discussion, includes, in addition to future mineral resources, the creation of a local-benefit instrument for current construction minerals, and a decision must be made whether advancement will take place together or as separate bills, and next year it is planned to submit both a concession bill and bills dealing with construction minerals at the earliest opportunity to the Government for review and from there to the Riigikogu for processing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar invites Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid emphasizes that, with regard to the organization of phosphate mining, one should consider establishing a state-owned joint-stock company that would handle it and share all the benefits for the good of the Estonian people, and he asks why switch to a concession mechanism, drawing a parallel with the example of oil shale and Eesti Energia.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
During the presentation, it was emphasized that, using oil shale as an example, the state decides the terms and volumes of mineral use and maps out the state's role in the concession, focusing currently on the possibilities of on-site value-added processing, and, if necessary, the form of a state-owned enterprise is discussed during the procedure.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar asks Evelin Poolametsa.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets emphasizes that on the topic of phosphate mining there is a very rapid move forward, both in terms of processing methods and the legal framework, and attention is paid to environmental impacts, including considerations of groundwater depletion.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender emphasizes that groundwater is our number-one natural resource, which is continuously monitored and whose data are shared with companies and local authorities, and before undertaking any activities that affect groundwater, adequate mitigation measures must be ensured.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair asks that Henn Põlluaas take the floor.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Henn Põlluaas notes that although the decision to start mining has not yet been made, the government can easily change it, recalls the development of decisions on offshore wind farms, and asks whether, in light of studies and future plans, the prevention of environmental pollution from mining is being considered.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Currently, in a general geological study, it is being investigated whether the activity carried out there affects the groundwater level; the impact is within limits, and the groundwater level is being monitored, and these studies do not lead to any other environmental pollution.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked that Helle-Moonika Helme be invited onto the stage.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme warns that in the name of European decarbonization there is a plan to hand Estonia's mineral resources over to the European Union, and Estonia's special planning law makes this easier, which, in her view, is a danger, and she asks whether others see this danger.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Estonia decides for itself how its natural resources are used.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar turns toward Mart Maastik and says: "please".
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik asks the Reform Party what has changed in their worldview, what their new ambitions and potential benefits are, and how significant this is in comparison with the risk of groundwater contamination, referring to groundwater as the number-one mineral resource.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
It is stated that the studies do not show a negative impact on groundwater, and they are conducted to obtain this confirmation; in addition, mining methods are analyzed so that, going forward, it will be clear which environmental impact studies need to be conducted, and this has nothing to do with a worldview.
Leo Kunnas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
To assess the potential environmental damage of mining, one must rely on analogues that occurred elsewhere—such as the impact of phosphorite mining in Nauru and the general harmful effects of rare earth metal mining—since we see that the results in Estonia cannot be very different.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chairman Lauri Hussar turned to Leo Kunnas and asked him to take the floor.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender emphasized that the research into new technologies focuses on methods that do not harm groundwater, in order to avoid damage and to decide on mining in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked and announced that next up is the questioner Lauri Laats.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats asks the Speaker of the Riigikogu and the minister why the topic has attracted little attention in the public's view, and requests an overview of how many meetings have been held with representatives of the local community, at how many public meetings this topic has been discussed, and what feedback has been received.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
He stressed participation in a knowledge-based discussion, and he is not a geology expert and is awaiting overviews on the study results, having presented to local representatives the intention to develop the draft bill, and, after hearing the feedback, learned from their experiences, and he stressed that the Geological Service and the Ministry of Climate officials have held meetings with people during the process since 2022 and will continue to do so in the future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks the minister and announces that he has no more questions.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
The climate minister Yoko Alender thanks the audience.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar opens the negotiations and invites the inquirers' representative Jaak Valge to the podium.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge emphasized that the issue of phosphate mining must be conducted transparently and taking into account local interests, especially the interests of the residents of Lääne-Viru County, and that important decisions should not be in the hands of officials, the government or the Riigikogu, but should be brought to a people's referendum.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanks and invites the next speaker, Anti Poolametsa, to the podium.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets warned that the effects of the green transition and the large projects associated with it — Rail Baltica, wind farms, and phosphate-related works — on people's health (infrasound), agriculture, and the demographic and social situation are serious and require immediate thorough research and dissemination of information.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks for three minutes of extra time.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets said that although the European Union has increased its interest in our future mineral resources and rare earth metals for the green transition, mining is accompanied by a large environmental impact and risks such as child labor and human trafficking, and the concession draft shows that this is not a state-owned Estonian company, but rather that experienced foreign companies are being sought, which would bring about greater dependence.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanked and asked Evelin Poolametsa, a colleague at the Riigikogu's speaking desk.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Evelin Poolamets emphasized that phosphate mining could irreversibly harm groundwater resources and the environment, called for local involvement and transparent mitigation measures, criticized the government's lack of evidence, and raised questions about economic viability and the need to invest in better, more environmentally friendly future economic sectors.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar finished the discussion of the fourth item on the agenda, indicated that after the gavel strike one could register to speak at the open mic, and declared the meeting adjourned, inviting everyone to the Riigikogu plenary session tomorrow at 10 o'clock.