The Situation in the Republic of Estonia
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, press briefing
Date: 2024-03-06 14:16
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 14
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 14m
AI Summaries: 14/14 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item addressed an interpellation presented to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas concerning the energy situation of the Republic of Estonia, initiated by Riigikogu member Helle-Moonika Helme. Central to the debate was the write-down of assets related to Eesti Energia’s (Enefit Power) oil shale energy sector, which Helme called an "accounting trick" and "theft from its own people," estimating the damage at approximately 360 million euros. Helme accused the government of destroying the foundation of independent energy with the goal of selling the company for a song, and sharply criticized the prioritization of renewable energy (wind and sun), calling it "pseudoscience" and "folly."
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas defended the government's actions, explaining that the write-down of assets was unavoidable because the Auvere power plant is frequently malfunctioning and the electricity it produces is too expensive to enter the market due to CO2 quotas. Kallas emphasized that warnings about the imprudence of building the Auvere plant had been issued as early as 2011. The Prime Minister confirmed that the government is actively working to resolve the energy crisis by accelerating the processing of renewable energy projects, creating a local benefit mechanism, and discussing the implementation of storage capacities and nuclear energy. Rain Epler also participated in the debate, asking about the government's specific energy policy goals and the future comparison of Estonian electricity prices with those in Finland.
Decisions Made 1
No official legislative or governmental decisions were adopted during the course of this discussion. It was a response to an inquiry and a political debate.
Most Active Speaker
Helle-Moonika Helme (pid: z2Yp9qia3VQ) was the most active speaker and the one who truly set the sharp tone of the debate. Helme represented the right-wing opposition (EKRE), and her stance on the government’s energy policy was extremely critical. She employed highly emotional and accusatory language, labeling the write-off of Eesti Energia assets as "theft" and dismissing climate policy as "climate hysteria" and "folly." Helme also cast doubt on Prime Minister Kaja Kallas's motives, referencing her past associations with wind energy companies.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that today's second question, directed by Riigikogu member Helle-Moonika Helme to Prime Minister Kaja Kallas, concerns the situation of the Republic of Estonia.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme accuses Eesti Energia of concealing assets and stealing approximately 360 million, emphasizes that oil shale energy has kept us warm and supported the economy during the crisis, and warns that the plan is to lower the company's value and sell it off or liquidate it, which would leave Estonia without independent energy generation.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas noted that the establishment of the Auvere oil shale power plant in 2011 was economically dubious, and against the backdrop of today's CO2 quotas and rising fuel prices, it is often uncompetitive and costly on the market. She added that the government has acted quickly to address the energy problem, providing short-term tenders, storage capacity, and balancing power plants to bring down prices.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks [the previous speaker] and invites Helle-Moonika Helme to ask a clarifying question.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Helle-Moonika Helme asserts that CO2 quotas and climate hysteria are pseudoscience, and that the political elite has constructed an experiment around solar and wind energy that, while functional, is unsustainable and detrimental to people's welfare and the economy, ultimately harming the public.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kallas emphasized a positive and optimistic approach and summarized the steps being taken to advance renewable energy, particularly wind power: accelerated planning procedures, ensuring local benefits, competitive tenders, and discussions regarding storage capacity. She stressed that both offshore and onshore wind power are primarily intended for domestic consumption, and taxpayer support will not be provided for export.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chair thanks and asks Rain Epler to pose a follow-up question.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler began on a positive note, referencing the 50th anniversary of the Mesmer plan and the success of the French energy system, and then posed two specific questions: does she, as Prime Minister, have a clear objective for energy policy, and what the price of Estonian electricity should be in ten years compared to Finland, and how that goal will be reached.
Peaminister Kaja Kallas
AI Summary
Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stressed the need for balance in energy policy, stating that alongside renewable energy, there is a need for controllable capacities and balancing solutions, as well as a plan for a combined gas and hydrogen plant, and that the goals have already been formulated.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the discussion of the second question and, before moving on to the third, announced that Rain Epler had his hand raised and had a question regarding the procedure for conducting the sitting.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler is attempting to clarify the confusion regarding the citations in the articles by Kaja Kallas and Karnau, check whether his question reached the presiding officer of the session and how the hall's acoustics played a role in that, and is asking for clarification regarding Mesmer's energy plan and its results.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanks the audience.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The speaker, Rain Epler, checks what the listeners heard—whether Kaja Kallas said that she wrote the articles, or whether Karnau wrote the articles.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar said that the hall has good acoustics and we can hear quite precisely what Kaja Kallas is saying. He added that Kaja Kallas had also quoted very accurately an article by his former colleague, Andrus Karnau, which Hussar himself has read and considers a good article.