The Estonian government on Thursday endorsed a draft Nuclear Energy and Safety Act and forwarded it to the Riigikogu, the national parliament, for deliberation.
Proposed by the Ministry of Climate Change, the legislation seeks to create a robust legal framework governing the use of nuclear energy and associated activities in Estonia.
Energy and Environment Minister Andres Sutt stated that a nuclear power plant is under consideration as a potential source of dispatchable generation capacity post-2035, aimed at bolstering the country’s energy supply security.
Under the draft law, the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority will act as an independent regulator responsible for licensing and overseeing nuclear safety. The legislation restricts approved technologies to those with proven practical applications and details licensing procedures spanning preliminary assessments, construction permits, testing, operation, and eventual decommissioning of nuclear facilities.
The bill mandates that developers and operators assume full responsibility for plant safety and cover all costs associated with end-of-service-life decommissioning.
If passed, the law is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. Current projections indicate that a nuclear power plant in Estonia could not be completed before the mid-2030s.
