Lawmakers have convened at the Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) to discuss plans to develop nuclear energy in the Baltic country as they pondered how and if they should proceed. A decision is “expected by mid-June,” the Estonian Public Broadcasting service, ERR News, reports.
On Thursday, for the first time, the final report put together by experts from the nuclear energy working group was discussed in the Riigikogu. The specialists suggested “building a small power plant with a modular reactor with a capacity of up to 400 megawatts,” ERR News states.
Reelika Runnel, head of the Radiation and Nuclear Energy Unit at the Estonian climate ministry, was quoted as saying by ERR News that “Estonia needs to ensure its supply security and achieve its climate goals.”
She said: “The state needs to be able to provide at least 1200 MW of managed generation capacity that is climate-friendly at the same time. The construction of a nuclear power plant would certainly be one way of achieving these objectives. But whether to go down this route or what is a credible alternative is a matter for politicians to decide.”
Although experts believe that Estonia might require years before it begins using nuclear energy, the groundwork for its introduction in the Baltic state is currently being laid. Based on the discussions in Parliament, “a draft is being prepared, which is expected to be adopted by the Riigikogu before midsummer,” ERR News states.
According to ERR News, MP Igor Taro, who is chairman of the Riigikogu’s Environment Committee, said: “The government can then propose a framework for nuclear power’s development… The framework does not make the decision on whether or not to build the plant, where to build it, but it gives us the opportunity to.”
Reelika Runnel, head of the Radiation and Nuclear Energy Unit at the Estonian climate ministry, was quoted as saying by ERR News that “Estonia needs to ensure its supply security and achieve its climate goals.”
She said: “The state needs to be able to provide at least 1200 MW of managed generation capacity that is climate-friendly at the same time. The construction of a nuclear power plant would certainly be one way of achieving these objectives. But whether to go down this route or what is a credible alternative is a matter for politicians to decide.”
Although experts believe that Estonia might require years before it begins using nuclear energy, the groundwork for its introduction in the Baltic state is currently being laid. Based on the discussions in Parliament, “a draft is being prepared, which is expected to be adopted by the Riigikogu before midsummer,” ERR News states.
According to ERR News, MP Igor Taro, who is chairman of the Riigikogu’s Environment Committee, said: “The government can then propose a framework for nuclear power’s development… The framework does not make the decision on whether or not to build the plant, where to build it, but it gives us the opportunity to.”
Source: news.err.ee
