Estonia is thinking about building a nuclear power program, focusing on those smaller, modular reactors (SMRs) to help them hit their climate goals and make their energy supply more secure. And to get things started, they’ve asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for help in setting up the right legal framework.

The IAEA sent a team to Estonia to chat with government officials, members of the Nuclear Energy Programme Implementing Organisation (NEPIO), and other important folks about all the international rules and agreements covering nuclear safety, security, safeguards, and who’s responsible if something goes wrong. Estonia’s already signed on to all the major IAEA agreements about nuclear safety and security, which is a good start.

The IAEA team also met with some members of parliament – from the Nuclear Energy Support Group and the Environmental Committee – to explain what a solid nuclear law looks like and why it’s so important.

Estonia going nuclear, and this isn’t the first time Estonia’s worked with the IAEA on this. Back in October 2023, they hosted an IAEA mission to check out how their nuclear infrastructure was developing. A good legal framework is one of the 19 key things they need to sort out before they can move forward with their nuclear plans.

And get this – in June 2024, the Estonian parliament actually voted in favor of nuclear energy! This clears the way for them to create all the necessary laws and regulations. The parliament’s decision was based on a study by a special working group that concluded nuclear energy is a realistic option for Estonia.