The decision to build a nuclear power plant in Estonia is to be taken by the Riigikogu already next year. On Thursday, the state group’s interim report was presented.
The final report on the pros and cons of switching to nuclear energy, which is being prepared under the leadership of the Ministry of the Environment and will cost 540,000 euros, will be ready by the end of next year.
“Certainly, the question of what to do with spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste is an important one. There are many things that can have a negative impact on the use of nuclear energy in Estonia. At the same time, we must remember that climate change is not going anywhere. “The world is waiting for the transition to clean energy. A nuclear power plant is the production of energy without CO2 emissions. All this once again confirms the need to seriously consider the transition to nuclear energy,” said Meelis Münt, head of the state nuclear energy group.
According to polls, people see nuclear energy as the main alternative to shale energy. In relation to the construction of nuclear power plants, the respondents were divided into three camps: those who are “for”, those who are “against” and those who have doubts.
“Estonians consider the biggest benefit of switching to nuclear energy to be energy security for the country. The biggest drawback is the potential risk of environmental catastrophe associated with radioactive waste,” said Katrin Männaste, research expert at Emor.
At the state level, it was decided that private companies would have to take over the construction of the nuclear power plant. So far, only Fermi Energia has announced its readiness to build a nuclear power plant in Estonia. However, the state is interested in more enterprises to create competition.
“It is important that at this sensitive stage, when the decision to build a nuclear power plant in Estonia has not yet been made, the state and the private sector work together, but independently of each other. This is the principle that we adhere to in our work,” Munt emphasized.
Fermi Energia is studying Letipea and Aidu in Virumaa as possible sites for the construction of a nuclear power plant. Monitoring of sites at the state level continues, and the results should be received in March next year.