Guarantee
Session: The 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Information Hour
Date: 2025-10-15 15:54
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 12m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The fifth item on the Riigikogu's agenda concerned Prime Minister Kristen Michal's answers to Riigikogu member Mart Maastik's question regarding the state guarantee program in the energy sector. Maastik expressed concern about the new loan guarantee scheme being developed at the Ministry of Climate, which is intended for large energy projects (such as offshore wind farms, storage facilities, and a nuclear power plant). According to Maastik, this measure contradicts the principles of a market economy, where the taxpayer bears the risks (in case of loss) and the private sector skims the cream (in case of success). He referred to the suspension of a similar Swedish program due to the complex calculation of risks and socio-economic efficiency. Prime Minister Michal confirmed that the guarantee measure is under conceptual discussion and is being developed by several ministries (EIS, KliM, MKM, RaM). The goal of the measure is to bring large industrial and energy infrastructure projects to Estonia that are too risky for private sector financiers, and he emphasized that state risks must be mitigated in the contract terms.
In a follow-up question, Maastik criticized the Ministry of Climate's expenditure of 100,000 euros on a systematic review of the health effects of wind turbines, claiming it was a simple report that could have been compiled using artificial intelligence, and considered it a waste of state money. The Prime Minister defended commissioning the research, explaining that a scientific review is necessary to address public concerns regarding the health effects of renewable energy. In an additional question, Rain Epler expressed concern about the preferential development of intermittent electricity, referring to a recent power outage in Spain and warnings indicating that prioritizing wind and solar energy increases system costs and the risk of outages. Prime Minister Michal responded ironically that Estonian energy specialists have long been aware of the need to balance non-dispatchable and dispatchable capacities, referring to Estonia's successful desynchronization from the Russian frequency area.
Decisions Made 1
No decisions were made
Most Active Speaker
Mart Maastik posed both the main question and a long, detailed follow-up question, criticizing the government's plans for the energy sector and the use of public funds. He represents the right-wing opposition.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu session proceeded to the fifth item on the agenda, which was addressed directly to Prime Minister Kristen Michal. The question was posed by Riigikogu member Mart Maastik, thereby signifying the parliament's execution of its oversight function regarding the activities of the head of government. The discussion centered on the specific topic of "Suretyship." Although this text does not contain the substance of the question or the Prime Minister’s response, the selection of the topic points to a significant area requiring explanations and positions from the head of government. Issues related to suretyship often concern the state's financial obligations, economic policy, or social guarantees, making it a crucial subject for both members of parliament and the public. Thus, this was a procedurally significant moment where Riigikogu member Maastik exercised his right to demand accountability from the Prime Minister in a specific and potentially sensitive policy area, underscoring the parliament's role in scrutinizing the government's actions.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker began by recalling the government's previous promise to discontinue state subsidies in the energy sector following the last renewable energy auctions, transitioning to a market-based system. Despite this commitment, the Ministry of Climate is currently developing a new support scheme for major energy projects: a loan guarantee. This measure is intended for the construction of projects such as offshore wind farms, large-scale storage facilities, and a nuclear power plant. The criticism centers on the scheme's inherent risk allocation: the state—meaning the taxpayer—guarantees the company’s bank loan. If the project later proves financially unviable, the taxpayer covers the debt. However, if the project succeeds, the entrepreneur reaps the lion's share of the profit. Thus, the taxpayer bears the risk and potential costs in either scenario, subsidizing inefficient and excessively expensive developments that ultimately distort the energy market. A similar Swedish guarantee program, which has now been put on hold, is cited as a cautionary example. Sweden justified the pause by citing the need to better calculate the risks and socio-economic efficiency of long-term investments, and to find a balance between the risk assumed by the state and the expected socio-economic benefit. The speaker asks the government whether it wouldn't be wiser to learn from the mistakes of other countries, rather than constantly seeking new ways to support renewable energy developments at the taxpayer's expense, regardless of the cost.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The speech first focuses on the concept of a new guarantee measure initiated by the Minister of Climate and Energy. This measure is currently being developed by several ministries and agencies, including the Ministry of Climate, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Finance. The measure aims to attract large industrial and energy infrastructure projects to Estonia—projects that sit on the risk threshold and whose financing risks the private sector is unwilling to shoulder alone. The discussion has covered a wide range of future projects, including a nuclear power plant, pumped hydro storage facilities, offshore wind farms, data centers, and the valorization of hydrogen and wood. These projects often have long payback periods—30 years or more—and their loans could be extended to match the actual lifespan of the assets. It is emphasized that the state must mitigate the risks associated with the guarantee through equity restrictions written into the contract terms. However, the entire initiative is currently still only in the conceptual discussion phase. In the second part, the speaker criticizes the anti-renewable energy campaign waged by Isamaa and EKRE, noting that it has been unsuccessful, given that renewables have long provided Estonia with a significant amount of cheaper energy. The speaker emphasizes that the future must clearly move toward a cleaner and more environmentally sustainable energy base, contrasting this with "filling the sky and earth with smoke." The ultimate goal is to achieve lower prices and protect nature through cleaner energy—a goal which the speaker believes has the support of the majority of Estonians.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
This brief address during the Riigikogu session was purely procedural, marking the transition from one stage of the discussion to the next. The speaker began with words of thanks, indicating the conclusion of the preceding presentation or debate, and then proceeded to guide the session into the question-and-answer round. The main substance of the address involved calling upon a specific Member of Parliament, Mart Maastik. Maastik was granted the floor to pose a clarifying question, which suggests that this was part of a structured debate where questions were anticipated. Overall, this was a brief intervention by the session chair, aimed at ensuring the smooth continuation of parliamentary proceedings by yielding the floor to the next questioner.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker opened their address by criticizing the Prime Minister, specifically accusing him of evading answers to concrete questions and leveling political accusations. Attention then shifted back to the systematic review of the health effects of wind turbines, which had been presented at the joint session of the Economic and Environmental Committee and commissioned by the Ministry of Climate. The speaker emphasized that this was a summary of studies published over 15 years in peer-reviewed scientific journals, primarily focusing on the effects of infrasound and noise. The criticism centered on the cost and substantive value of the study. Six scientists worked for half a year to compile the review, for which 100,000 euros were paid from the state budget. The speaker claimed this was a senseless waste of money, arguing that all the material was essentially available online. To prove their point, the speaker demonstrated that the same result could be obtained instantly by inputting the relevant questions into the artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT. Consequently, the expensive review yielded absolutely no new knowledge. The Member of Parliament asked the Prime Minister directly whether he considered such a waste of state money acceptable, especially when it resulted in zero new insights. The questioner stressed that paying 100,000 euros merely to summarize existing research was preposterous. It would have been far more practical to allocate that money to conducting new, original research, rather than paying large sums for commissioning a simple overview of already available knowledge.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The speaker began by thanking the questioner and stressed that speaking slowly aids comprehension. He then focused on reviewing and compiling research conducted by scientists concerning the potential health impacts of renewable energy. He stressed that this kind of work is not a simple "cut-and-paste paper" but demands meticulous verification and data validation. While renewable energy helps lower energy costs, there are still opponents convinced that renewable energy sources have detrimental health effects. If people have concerns, a scientific solution must be sought, and the best way to achieve this is for scientists to compile information based on the best available research findings. The speaker's position is clear: people have the right to this information, and they need it. He expressed strong support for compiling and publishing the information, especially when requested, and would never oppose making necessary data available to the public. Finally, the speaker addressed the issue of payment for the work, noting that work is rarely done for free. He cited members of the Riigikogu (Parliament) who receive a salary for their duties, thereby justifying the expense involved in preparing the scientific review.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The text provided is not a substantive political speech, but rather a procedural announcement made by the chairman or presiding officer of the Riigikogu (Estonian Parliament) session. The goal of this brief address was to move the debate forward and grant the floor to the next questioner, thereby ensuring the smooth progression of parliamentary proceedings. The central and sole focus of the address was the introduction of Rain Epler. The presiding officer granted him permission to ask a supplementary question, which indicates that a debate or Q&A session was in progress, allowing Epler the opportunity to clarify previously discussed topics or request further explanations. The phrase "Suur tänu!" (Thank you very much!) marks the conclusion of the previous speaker, while "Palun!" (Please!) serves as a direct invitation for Epler to pose his question. In summary, this was a purely organizational interlude intended solely for the management of the session. Content-wise, the speaker presented no political standpoints or arguments; instead, they fulfilled the role of the presiding officer, ensuring that the question and answer round continued in the prescribed order.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker began their address with criticism directed at the Prime Minister, expressing difficulty understanding the government's enthusiasm for developing intermittent power generation. To support their position, they cited an example from Spain, referring to an analysis published in early October regarding the causes of the major spring power outage, or blackout. Furthermore, the Spanish system operator issued a warning to the regulator that if swift action is not taken, a similar major power outage could recur. The speaker strongly recommended that the Prime Minister instruct his advisors or State Chancellery staff to review and translate these Spanish-language documents. According to the speaker, these documents clearly demonstrate that the primary cause of both grid problems and rising prices is precisely the preferential development of wind and solar energy. The main question posed to the Prime Minister was why his team has failed to compile an information package based on global experience and expert assessments. This package should clearly show that prioritizing renewable energy not only makes the entire system extremely expensive but also significantly increases the risk of major power outages. Finally, the speaker recommended that the Prime Minister have experts prepare a short memo that he could read before the upcoming European Council summit.
Peaminister Kristen Michal
AI Summary
The speaker answered the question in a sharply ironic tone, expressing profound astonishment that in 2025, Estonia is supposedly "discovering" the need for a balanced energy system that includes controllable capacities. He called such a discovery "outrageous," emphasizing that knowledgeable people in the Estonian energy sector have known this principle since the dawn of time. Therefore, the questioner has discovered nothing new and deserves no credit for this knowledge. To prove the competence and capability of Estonian energy specialists, the speaker cited the recent desynchronization from the Russian frequency area and the connection to the Continental European frequency area. This fundamental choice was successfully implemented despite Russia’s information influence operations, which predicted darkness and harmful consequences for the Baltic states. The speaker confirmed that they managed this perfectly well, in spite of the scaremongers. Estonia already has the necessary mechanisms and solutions in place to ensure system balance. Non-dispatchable energy sources must be balanced by dispatchable ones, and Elering has various procurements, connections, and other mechanisms in place for this purpose. Thus, the principles for balancing the energy system have long been known and applied in Estonia.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman of the Riigikogu session made a brief procedural statement, the purpose of which was to confirm the continuation of the session and adherence to the agenda. After the voices subsided in the chamber and the bell was rung, the Chairman thanked his colleagues and resolutely announced that the parliament would proceed according to the approved rules of procedure. The central argument of the address was purely procedural: to conclude the ongoing discussion. The Chairman confirmed that the consideration of the fifth item on today’s agenda had been concluded. This announcement marked a significant transition, directing the chamber's attention to the subsequent agenda items and ensuring that the session would continue as planned and without disruption. In summary, this was an official notification emphasizing the need to maintain parliamentary order and move smoothly from one topic to the next. The Chairman's brief but clear address confirmed the closure of the fifth item and ensured the transition to the subsequent discussions.