Possibilities of introducing nuclear energy in Estonia

According to Kristen Michal, chairman of the Economic Commission, the construction of a nuclear power plant is an opportunity to ensure affordable electricity for the people of Estonia in the long term. "In Europe, 25 percent of the energy comes from nuclear plants, and the majority of Estonians support the construction of a nuclear plant. Assuming that the final report of 2023 provides a basis for this and the Riigikogu The unicameral parliament of Estonia. says a basic "yes" to nuclear energy in 2024 and adopts the Nuclear Act, electricity production at the nuclear plant can start in 2035," explained Michal. He added that the preparation of the interim report confirms that with a broad-based effort and fast enough technology development, the completion of the nuclear reactor in Estonia can be brought forward by a maximum of two years, to 2032-2033.

Commission vice-chairman Rene Kokk said that Estonia's energy policy must look far into the future. "Building a nuclear power plant is what guarantees us long-term security of supply and energy independence. One of the key questions in future discussions will surely be its location. If we cannot agree on a suitable location for the nuclear plant, it can become a criterion that excludes the construction of the plant, so it is very important to involve local people at the very beginning of the process and find a solution suitable for everyone," he said.

The commission's interim report recommends introducing a water-cooled reactor type in Estonia. The first generation 3+ reactors using this technology will start operating at the end of 2027 in the USA and Canada. Two to four reactors should be built in Estonia, the production of which should take into account the capacities of the Estonian electricity grid.

As part of the working group's studies, a series of analyzes will be completed, including on used nuclear fuel storage sites, security and emergency preparedness, as well as an expert analysis of the Finnish nuclear regulator for the interim report of the Nuclear Energy Working Group. A communication strategy will also be prepared, sentiment surveys will be conducted, a strategy for training nuclear energy specialists will be created, the legal framework necessary for starting the nuclear program will be mapped, and the draft nuclear law, which has been waiting for its time since 2007, will be updated.

The final report of the working group, on the basis of which it is possible to adopt a principled decision on the introduction of nuclear energy, will be completed in December 2023.