Klaas told ERR's radio news on Thursday that based on current information, the planned pulp mill was unfit to be built anywhere within the vicinity of Tartu with its 100,000 residents or the Emajõgi River, reported ETV news broadcast "Aktuaalne kaamera."

According to Klaas, this was discussed at a meeting of the Reform Party board and that Tartu residents' concerns were well understood.

Pevkur, however, denied that the party had reached any sort of concrete consensus on the mater. "Naturally various opinions were discussed, but one of the most serious positions was that if people and businesses have been granted the right to conduct studies, then these studies should actually be conducted as well, and then a final decision can be made," said Pevkur.

"Another matter of course is that the City of Tartu has been left out of this decision, and I believe that it should be seriously considered whether to allow the local government to be able to have its say on the matter," he added.

Next Wednesday, Minister of Public Administration Jaak Aab (Center) and Minister of the Environment Indrek Kiisler (IRL) will attend a meeting of Tartu City Council where the construction of the pulp mill in question will be on the agenda. Aab stressed that said construction is not yet final.