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11-09-2022

TRINITI to update the draft Estonian nuclear law

At the beginning of November, the Estonian Ministry of the Environment and law firm TRINITI, following an open call for tenders, signed a contract to carry out the mapping of the legal framework for the initiation of the nuclear program in Estonia, the updating of the draft nuclear law and the drafting of the corresponding explanatory memorandum.

The goal of the work is to facilitate the creation of the required legal framework, which is one of the prerequisites for the establishment of a nuclear power plant in Estonia, should such a decision be taken in the future. A study will be carried out in the next four months to map the current situation, including gaps in the Estonian legal framework, and suggest best international practices in the field. A draft Nuclear Law and accompanying explanatory memorandum will be ready within eight months of the signature of the agreement.

Reelika Runnel, advisor to the Ministry of the Environment, said: “Updating the draft Nuclear Energy Act and mapping the legal framework are key activities for the preparation of the comprehensive final report of the National Nuclear Energy Working Group, which will be completed by the end of 2023. On this basis, we will be able to assess the volume of work required for the introduction of nuclear energy and, in the event of a positive decision by the Government of the Republic and the parliament Riigikogu, move more quickly forward with the preparatory activities.”

“We consider the forthcoming advisory assignment to be crucial for Estonia’s future energy security and adequate electricity supply, and we consider winning the tender as a an  acknowledgement of our experience and success in providing legal advice in the fields of infrastructure and energy,” emphasised Tõnis Tamme, partner and attorney-at-law at TRINITI.

TRINITI’s advisory team also includes Ain Kalme, co-head of the firm’s Infrastructure & Transport working group and Sten Veidebaum, attorney-at-law. Over the next eight months, TRINITI will carry out the advisory project in cooperation with the leading international energy law experts from Castletown Law in the UK, the leading Central and Eastern European business consultancy CIVITTA and law firm Waselius & Wist, which has advised on a number of Finnish nuclear projects.

“We are delighted to be working with TRINITI on this important project and to help Estonia develop its nuclear legal framework. Our contribution will build on the expertise we have gained in advising on nuclear projects in the UK (EDF, Horizon Nuclear Power and NuGen) and internationally (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Jordan and Malaysia),” added Simon Stuttaford of Castletown Law.