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Legal framework
At the legislative level, the area related to national stockpiles is regulated by the Emergency Act, the Liquid Fuel Stocks Act, the Natural Gas Act, and the Health Services Organisation Act as well as lower-level legislative acts established based thereon. In addition, European Union regulations regulate liquid fuel and natural gas stocks. -
Definition of operation stockpile
An operation stockpile means goods that are necessary for resolving an emergency or combating a risk thereof and for ensuring the state’s security of supply, national security, and subsistence to the population. -
Establishment of a stockpile
The state’s operation stockpile is established based on law, a decision of the government of Estonia, or a decision of the Estonian Stockpiling Agency. The national stockpile is established and managed and the release thereof is organised by a state-owned company called the Estonian Stockpiling Agency, whose activities as specified in its statutes are aimed at the constitution and management of a stockpile. -
Release of a stockpile
The release of a stockpile is decided by the government of Estonia. In a situation possibly posing a risk to public order, national security, or public health requiring immediate action against the risk, the release of the stockpile may be decided by the minister responsible for managing the stockpile, who must promptly inform the government of the Republic thereof.
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Location of maintaining the stockpile
The national stockpile is maintained in a manner that ensures the availability thereof in its place of storage for the purpose of resolving an emergency or a risk thereof and for ensuring the state’s security of supply, national security, and subsistence to the population. The stockpile is maintained in Estonia. The Liquid Fuel Stocks Act allows to maintain motor fuels abroad. Natural gas stocks are another exception because Estonia does not have a suitable place for maintaining its stocks, so the stockpile is maintained in the Republic of Latvia.
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Funding the establishment, management, and use of the stockpile
Costs of establishing, managing, and using the state’s operation stockpile are covered from state budget funds or funds received from the sale of the stockpile. Liquid fuel and natural gas stocks are an exception because the costs of acquisition are covered from the state budget by increasing the share capital of the Estonian Stockpiling Agency and from funds received from the sale of the stockpile.
The costs of managing the fuel stocks are covered from stockpiling fees. Income from the liquid fuel and natural gas stockpiling fees can only be used for covering the management costs of the stockpiles. In addition, the natural gas stockpiling fees are used for covering the management expenses of the Port of Pakrineeme as an important piece of infrastructure constructed to ensure the security of supply.
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Management of operation stockpiles
When using funds intended for purchasing stocks, The Estonian Stockpiling Agency follows the objectives of operating in a profitable manner and ensuring the preservation of value of the state’s stockpiles.
The national stockpile is either owned by the Estonian Stockpiling Agency or the Estonian Stockpiling Agency has concluded respective agreements for the acquisition and/or use of the stockpiles with the owners of the stocks (a so-called delegated stockpile).
When rotating the operation stockpile, the Estonian Stockpiling Agency is obligated to ensure that transactions are based on the market and are efficient as well as to take into consideration that the volume of the stockpile must not fall below the agreed level as a result of the rotation.
When using excess stocks, the Estonian Stockpiling Agency prefers the most efficient solutions from the management perspective, including options for an efficient rotation of the stocks and selling a delegated stockpile.
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Restrictions on information regarding the state’s operation stockpile
The Public Information Act requires a holder of information to classify the following as information for internal use: information concerning the amount of stocks and resources necessary for the performance of national defence tasks and for mitigating the consequences of an emergency, and the extent of and conditions for utilisation of such stocks. In addition, the head of a state or local government agency or a legal person in public law may classify the following as information intended for internal use: information related to the formation of stocks and the provision of resources if the disclosure of such information could affect the formation of stocks and the provision of resources.
Last updated: 11.07.2024
