The Government of the Republic approved the draft Nuclear Energy and Safety Act (NESA) and sent it to the Parliament for consideration. This is the first comprehensive legal framework that would lay the foundation for the adoption, supervision, and safety assurance of nuclear energy in Estonia.
The law provides a legal basis for the work of the national nuclear safety regulator, allows for the commencement of formal licensing procedures, and gives both the state and potential developers a clearer foundation for making further investment decisions.
According to the draft, the nuclear power plant developer and operator will be fully responsible for safety and the costs of the facility's end-of-life. During operation, funds would be collected into a national fund for the future dismantling of the plant and the final disposal of waste.
According to the Minister of Energy and Environment, Andres Sutt, Estonia's electricity system will require dispatchable generation capacity in addition to oil shale and renewable energy in the future, with a nuclear power plant being one potential solution after 2035.
Once the law comes into effect at the beginning of 2027, it would be possible to move forward step-by-step towards the potential construction of a nuclear power plant.