Interpellation concerning the construction of a nuclear power plant (No. 41)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session.
Date: 2024-01-15 17:57
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 27
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 18m
AI Summaries: 27/27 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
Today's session of the Riigikogu addressed the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Tõnis Mölder, Vadim Belobrovtsev, and Enn Eesmaa concerning the construction of a nuclear power plant in Estonia. The query was submitted in May 2024 and focused on the government's positions on the issue of nuclear energy, the discussions held during coalition negotiations, and plans for organizing a public debate. Prime Minister Kaja Kallas provided comprehensive answers to all the questions posed, explaining that the coalition has agreed to base its decision-making on the report produced by the nuclear energy working group. The working group's report was completed in January 2024, and its discussion within the government was scheduled for the near future. During the debate, several important questions were raised concerning the risks, costs, security, and alternatives related to nuclear energy.
Decisions Made 1
No specific decisions were made. The Prime Minister confirmed that the government has not yet made decisions regarding either promoting or hindering the construction of a nuclear power plant, but is waiting for the nuclear energy working group's report to be discussed by the cabinet.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant was Riigikogu member Lauri Laats, who submitted an interpellation and spoke twice. He represented the opposition's viewpoint, expressing skepticism regarding the construction of the nuclear power plant and stressing that by the time the nuclear plant was completed, renewable energy capacities would already be available. Laats criticized the government for its sluggishness and proposed alternative solutions for solving the problem of dispatchable capacity.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The second item on the agenda addresses the inquiry submitted on May 8th regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant. The inquiry was submitted by Riigikogu members Lauri Laats, Tõnis Möldri, Vadim Belobrovtsev, and Enn Eesmaa, and Lauri Laats will begin as the rapporteur.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats emphasized that the interpellation submitted in May regarding the construction of a nuclear power plant is a vital decision that requires broad discussion and clear clarification of the government's positions and decisions. This process must involve the coalition partners—the Reform Party, Eesti 200, and the Social Democratic Party—as well as local governments, communities, and experts. He simultaneously referenced the recently completed working group report detailing the pros and cons, expressing hope that substantive answers would be provided.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to the Riigikogu rostrum to answer the interpellation.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas confirmed that the coalition has thoroughly discussed the possibility of introducing nuclear energy, based on the working group's report. She stated that they will make the corresponding decisions based on the assessment of its suitability for the energy portfolio, organize a broader public debate, and allow the Riigikogu to adopt the final decision following the legally prescribed path.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanked everyone and said that there were also a few questions, asking Laur Laats to present them.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats calls on the Prime Minister to state her personal position on nuclear energy, emphasizing that green energy capacities already exist, and the planned nuclear power plant would be slow and expensive. Therefore, there are cheaper alternatives with less administrative burden that should be discussed immediately.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that she is not opposed to nuclear energy and that the pros and cons must be carefully weighed. A broad national consensus is important, and before a final position is adopted, they are awaiting a report based on which the Riigikogu (Parliament) will decide whether nuclear energy is a yes or a no.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the assembly and invites Tõnis Mölder to take the floor.
Tõnis Mölder
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Speaking on the matter, Tõnis Mölder stressed that a national analysis is vital for facilitating a broader debate and for making decisions regarding nuclear energy that are rooted in the state's interests. However, he added that intermediate options must also be considered over the next 15 to 20 years, given that oil shale boilers may be shut down due to the current government's decision before a nuclear power plant is operational.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas pointed out that the dispatchability of nuclear energy is a matter of debate: while it is very stable, it is typically not as flexible as gas plants. The solution is seen as an additional gas plant coupled with hydrogen storage capacity, and the need is emphasized to focus more on storage solutions for balancing renewable energy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Helle-Moonika Helme to take the floor.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He emphasizes that the construction of the nuclear power plant should be managed by the state, because only in that case can electricity be cheap. Otherwise, if the construction is pursued for the profit of businessmen associated with the Reform Party, the price for the Estonian consumer could be high, as demonstrated by Olkiluoto, where the price fluctuates between two and ten cents per kilowatt-hour, and the forecasts are uncertain.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The speech delivers the message that now is your time.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stresses that this nuclear energy report provides the answer to the question regarding a nuclear power plant in Estonia, and the assessment will look at whether its construction guarantees security of supply and reasonable prices.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called Mart Maastik up to the stage.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik highlighted that nuclear power generation is an alternative, and recommended exploring the option of becoming a shareholder in Finnish production and importing the electricity to Estonia via cable. This would eliminate security risks and negate the need to address nuclear waste storage.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
The current situation is that a large volume of electricity flows from the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant in Finland to Estonia. However, the question remains whether we should have our own domestic generation capacity in case something happens to those interconnections, and there are various differing viewpoints on this matter.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Next up is Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart, taking the stage.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart emphasizes that the coalition still lacks a firm position and is awaiting the report, but she doesn't see the sense in undertaking such a massive project when we can't even get our oil shale power plants working properly or manage to build Rail Baltic. She also highlights the drawbacks of a nuclear power plant and asks whether we see a risk that the plant could be held hostage in the event of a conflict.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that instead of speculating, we must rely on the report compiled by experts, which contains the answers to the questions. The government will discuss these findings and, if necessary, request additional information from the experts, and all highlighted concerns must receive an answer before we move forward.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks whether the owner's expectation for Eesti Energia to maintain 1000 megawatts of capacity is set to expire around 2026, and whether there are plans to extend this expectation, for example, until 2030, considering the observations made by the National Audit Office regarding potential issues with controllable capacities.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stressed that meeting the owner's expectations does not provide any guarantee, and the government is working on establishing a capacity reserve using dispatchable capacity to prevent power outages. Discussions have taken place within the cabinet, and some proposals have already reached the Riigikogu. Furthermore, Eesti Energia is offering a solution that includes a gas plant combined with hydrogen storage capacity.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invited Aleksei Jevgrafov to take the floor.
Aleksei Jevgrafov
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The report raises the question of whether the objective of the green transition program to increase the number of renewable energy sources is failing, due to the growing discussion surrounding a nuclear power plant.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated that while nuclear power plants do not emit CO2 and are not renewable, their role must be integrated into the CO2 reduction targets and the overall context, despite the fact that renewable energy goals have actually been fulfilled.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the Prime Minister for the comprehensive answers, announced that the questioning had concluded, and stated that he would next open the debate, but seeing no requests to speak, he would not open the debate.