"Estonia plays an important role in global mineral supply chains. Given Russia’s aggression and China’s dominant position in the critical raw materials supply chain—from mining to the extraction of rare earth elements and the production of related goods—it is crucial that Estonia collaborates with like-minded partners," said Climate Minister Yoko Alender. "We have the only rare earth processing plant in Europe, and we are open to cooperation with all who seek to foster a clean economy and uphold a rules-based international order."
As part of the visit, the Estonian delegation visited a nuclear power plant and training center under construction in Darlington, to explore next-generation energy solutions. The company Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is building the first-of-its-kind GE Hitachi BWRX-300 small modular reactor (SMR) in Darlington, which is considered a potential option for Estonia. To advance this, Fermi Energia AS has submitted an application for a special national spatial plan to determine the best location for such a facility in Estonia. "Visiting the training center provides an opportunity to understand the developments in nuclear energy and their practical applications, allowing us to gain a better understanding of this technology," the minister stated.
Minister Alender delivered the opening speech at Estonia’s seminar at PDAC, where she introduced Estonia’s mineral resources and innovative solutions for sector development. On March 4th, she also represented the European Union in an EU panel discussion. "Estonia’s stance on the international stage is clear—we must quickly assess our needs and secure the necessary materials to support the plan to allocate €800 billion to the defense industry, which is a priority for the European Union," said the minister.
During the visit, Minister Alender met with Kerstin Jorna, Director-General of the European Commission’s DG GROW (Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs). The discussions focused on Estonia’s role in the EU’s raw materials value chains, international cooperation, and support for Ukraine. Additionally, meetings were held with the Deputy Minister of Natural Resources of Canada, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forests of Québec, the Deputy Minister of Trade of Norway, and the Deputy Minister of Climate and Business of Sweden.
Beyond official meetings, Minister Alender also engaged with local Estonians to strengthen ties with the Estonian diaspora and share updates on Estonia’s recent developments in climate policy and the mineral resources sector.
The Estonian delegation includes Sirli Sipp Kulli, Director-General of the Estonian Geological Survey, Margus Raha and Harry Kuivkaev, advisors from the Ministry of Climate’s Department of Mineral Resources, and Brett Sooniste, an advisor from the ministry’s Foreign Relations Department.
