What happened
Estonia's government has allocated €2.2 million to establish a nuclear safety regulator. The funds will be used by the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority to set up the regulator in 2027. The regulator will be responsible for issuing permits and conducting nuclear oversight, with an initial staff of 13 specialists and a goal of around 40 employees over four years.
Although there are currently no nuclear power plants under construction in Estonia, the government has discussed building one, including Small Modular Reactor types. The Nuclear Energy Act, passed this summer, aims to create a legal framework for the development of nuclear energy in a safe and responsible manner. The regulator will assess nuclear safety and provide independent oversight, with funds used for training, personnel costs, and expert opinions.
Several potential locations have been identified for a proposed nuclear power station, all near the Baltic Sea coast to meet cooling water requirements. Estonia has never had a nuclear power station, although two reactors operated at a nuclear submarine base during the Soviet occupation.
