The Ministry of Regional Affairs and Agriculture wants to purchase up to 10 electric buses and 30 gas buses. Initially, 5 electric buses and 9 gas buses will be purchased. The buses will be paid for with money from the sale of CO2 quotas. These buses will be given to bus companies for use.
Bus companies don't understand why the state is buying its own buses. Mart Raamat, director of bus company Sebe, says this is absurd. He believes the bus market already has a good system. The state shouldn't be distributing buses. This could create problems.
Raamat says that if buses don't belong to the company itself, they don't get repaired. For example, in 2011, some state-purchased buses caught fire on the road. Gas and electric buses are expensive and risky.
The ministry responds that their goal isn't to become a bus operator. Buying buses helps reduce costs. If the state buys the buses, companies don't have to purchase them. This allows money to be spent on other things, like more bus routes.
Raamat disagrees with the ministry. He says this doesn't work. Most private company buses are already environmentally friendly. He thinks the state is wasting money.