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Revenues from the use of the environment increased 2001

Last year, the State Budget received 263 MEEK of revenues from the use of the environment, which exceeds the previous year's 197 MEEK by a quarter.

The main revenue sources were pollution charges, which yielded the total of 158 MEEK.

Although several enterprises concluded contracts with the Ministry of Environment for replacing  pollution charges with investments, the overall incomings increased on the account of a rise in environmental charge rates (20%) and carbon dioxide (50%).

The rise in pollution charge rates has motivated enterprises to search for possibilities to replace pollution charges with environmental investments. The relevant right is stipulated in the legislation for enterprises that are able to reduce their emissions by at least 25%. 
According to Eva Kraav, Ministry of Environment's Counsellor of environmental economics and audit, contracts for replacing pollution charges have been concluded with Eesti Energia (Estonian Energy), AS Silmet, Horizon, Optiroc and the water companies of Tartu, Keila, Jõgeva, Valga, Viljandi, Otepää, and several smaller water companies.

In 2001 Eesti Energia replaced 35 MEEK of pollution charges with environmental investments.

Contracts of replacing pollution charges are being negotiated with Kiviõli Keemiatööstuse OÜ and AS Viru Keemia Grupp. Polluting enterprises have actively taken the opportunity to replace the obligation to pay pollution charges with the obligation to finance efficient environmental protection measures. Therefore, according to Eva Kraav’s assessment, incomings from pollution charges are expected to decrease in 2002, in spite of the fact that the charge rates will increase by 20% on an average.

The largest increase occurred last year in revenues from fishing fees, which increased nearly eightfold: from 4.8 MEEK in 2000 to 37.8 MEEK in 2001. Such increase was, in particular, due to the fact that for the first time fishing rights were granted through tenders, which caused a substantial rise in prices. 

Revenues from other types of use of the environment break down as follows: fees for special use of water – ca 41 MEEK, natural resource use charges – 20.7 MEEK, hunting rent – 1.5 MEEK, hunting fees – 1.4 MEEK, compensation for environmental damage – 1.3 MEEK, revenues from management of state forests – 359 thous. EEK, other revenues – 466 thous. EEK.

The largest revenue (177 MEEK) was collected from Ida-Viru County, where larger industrial enterprises are concentrated. The smallest sums were received from Hiiumaa. 
The revenues of the State Budget from the use of the environment are channelled into environmental projects through the Centre for Environmental Investments.  

Additional information: Eva Kraav, Ministry of Environment's Counsellor of environmental economics and audit, tel.: 626 2807