S. Gentvilas, who told reporters about this on Wednesday, also said that the amendments are to be adopted at the autumn session of the Seimas.
“From 2023, we intend to significantly tax fossil fuels. We have the support of the Lithuanian Business Confederation and industrialists, but with two conditions. These are fair subsidies and a tax on coal imports.
The European Commission is also discussing this. Basically, if concrete, fertilizers, cement, glass are imported to Lithuania, the same ton produced in Belarus is burned several times more CO2 than in Akmenė, Panevėžys glass, Lifosa or anywhere.
We tax our producers, raise taxes and their products become so expensive that basically Belarusian or Asian products become cheaper, are imported, and factories in Lithuania close. To prevent this from happening, Europe has said it will raise excise duties, but imported products will have to pay environmental pollution taxes. That, too, should happen from 2023, ”he said.
The minister said that the fall along with Finance Ministry will present a draft law on excise duties, which will tax everything from coal to diesel and other fossil fuel elements.
“We are increasing excise duties, approaching the European Union average and creating a horizontal component of CO2, which has been applied in Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Sweden since 1991,” said S. Gentvilas.
He explained that he wanted to promote the supply of electricity and renewable resources within Lithuania.
“Lithuania annually 2.5 billion. We transfer EUR 1 billion for the purchased gas, oil, fuel and electricity to foreign companies and citizens – who would not produce. 400 million euros are for electricity.
One way is to correctly estimate imported fossil fuels. In one pocket it will increase resources, in another – jobs will be created in Lithuania. It is estimated that an average of one megawatt of electricity creates about 5 jobs. Tauragė, Pagėgiai are waiting and waiting for those hundreds of millions of wind energy projects. They will not start until we import electricity produced from coal or nuclear energy from the East or elsewhere, “said S. Gentvilas.
Altogether Ministry of the Environment 13 draft laws are submitted to the Seimas in the autumn session.
“There are waste management and water management blocks, tax reform, which includes a car tax. There will also be minor changes – the emergence of freelance inspectors, the relinquishment of part of the functions of the Construction Inspectorate and several reductions in administrative burdens, such as afforestation, etc. ”- the Minister introduced on Wednesday.
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