Prime Minister Andrus Ansip replied to the interpellation concerning the decisions of Eesti Energia in Ida-Virumaa (No 98), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Deniss Boroditš, Enn Eesmaa, Jüri Ratas, Kalev Kallo, Kalle Laanet, Lauri Laasi, Lembit Kaljuvee, Rainer Vakra, Tarmo Tamm, Valeri Korb, Viktor Vassiljev and Vladimir Velman on 23 January. 

The Prime Minister explained that, in summer this year, Eesti Energia Kaevandused Ltd is going to terminate extraction of oil shale in Aidu open cast mine because the resources of the mine are running out. Ansip noted that 351 people work in Aidu open cast mine, 61 of whom will be able to continue work in Narva open cast mine after the closing of Aidu mine, and the remaining 290 workers will be made redundant during 2012. One quarter of the people who will be made redundant will have the right to old-age pension or old-age pension under favourable conditions. In the Prime Minister’s words, originally, there had been a plan that the workers who would be made redundant would be used in a new, Aidu III mine but, at the end of 2011, a decision not to open Aidu III mine had been made on the grounds of it being economically unreasonable. Ansip said that, in order to support the people who will be made redundant, the company is going to set up a fund of a million euro which will help send people to retraining. 

Ansip noted that, besides, Eesti Energia Kaevandused Ltd is going to terminate oil shale mining in one part of Viru mine in July 2013. When the production will be terminated, the oil shale deposit which is accessible through Viru mine will be exhausted. According to Ansip’s explanations, the sharp incline of mine tunnels does not allow the use of the rail transport of Viru mine for extraction of oil shale there. Eesti Energia Kaevandused Ltd is planning to extract this oil shale deposit through Estonia mine. Ansip pointed out the data according to which trade oil shale amounts to nearly 8 million tons in this part. 

Prime Minister said that approximately 500 people are working in Viru mine at present and, after the exhaustion of the oil shale deposit in this mine, the majority of them are going to be transferred to Estonia mine where the enterprise is planning to significantly increase the production volume. Also, workers will be needed in Uus-Kiviõli mine which will be opened in the coming years. According to the estimation of Eesti Energia Kaevandused Ltd, Uus-Kiviõli mine would provide jobs for 700‒900 miners. Eesti Energia has got the permit for Uus-Kiviõli mining field and preparations for the establishment of the mine are under way. In Ansip’s words, Eesti Energia has confirmed that, as regards the workers to be made redundant, active work is going on in order to find opportunities to offer some other position to them, or for retraining. 

The Prime Minister also replied to the interpellation concerning the availability of services (No 108), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Andres Anvelt, Helmen Kütt, Jaak Allik, Jaan Õunapuu, Jevgeni Ossinovski, Kajar Lember, Kalev Kotkas, Kalvi Kõva, Neeme Suur, Rannar Vassiljev and Rein Randver on 8 February. 

President of Eesti Pank Andres Lipstok replied to the interpellation concerning the availability of cash (No 110), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Aadu Must, Deniss Boroditš, Ester Tuiksoo, Inara Luigas, Kadri Simson, Mailis Reps, Peeter Võsa, Priit Toobal, Tarmo Tamm, Viktor Vassiljev and Yana Toom on 9 February. 

Minister of Culture Rein Lang replied to the interpellation concerning the activities of the state in supporting top-level sports (No 107), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Aadu Must, Aivar Riisalu, Deniss Boroditš, Eldar Efendijev, Enn Eesmaa, Ester Tuiksoo, Inara Luigas, Jüri Ratas, Kadri Simson, Kalev Kallo, Lauri Laasi, Mailis Reps, Mihhail Stalnuhhin, Olga Sõtnik, Peeter Võsa, Priit Toobal, Tarmo Tamm, Valeri Korb, Viktor Vassiljev, Vladimir Velman and Yana Toom on 8 February. 

During the open microphone, Mihhail Stalnuhhin took the floor. 

The Riigikogu Press Service