Kairi Otsiver
Project Manager
We mine with a minimal footprint
Eesti Energia mines oil shale in two quarries. With our 100 years of experience, we valorise oil shale more efficiently than ever before, and our expertise is valued worldwide.
At the same time, Eesti Energia is moving in a direction where a significant amount of energy is produced from renewable and alternative sources.
We mine oil shale in the underground cole mine Estonia and in the Narva quarry. We clean up the areas mined: plant forests, prepare farmland or find other uses for such areas.
In order to reduce the impact on the environment, we are also planning to start underground mining in the Narva quarry, using the longwall mining technology.
The logistics unit makes sure that oil shale, crude shale oil, ash and crushed stone are delivered to the client at the right time and in the right amount.
In addition to chamber mining, the Estonia mine uses an advanced Cambrian lava technology. Thus, the ground remains intact, but mining takes place at several times over a length of approximately 700 meters.
The advantage of this method is the small volume of preparatory work that helps keep the price of oil shale competitive.
There are no additional environmental impacts.
Oil shale and limestone are layered in the Earth's crust. For energy production, limestone must be separated from oil shale. A wider use of limestone as an enrichment residue increases the added value of the oil shale industry.
We are cooperating with construction and road construction companies and looking for new applications for the by-product.
The quality of limestone from mining has also been studied by TalTech who confirm its suitability for rail and road construction, including the Rail Baltic.
Although a lot of our energy comes from renewable and alternative sources, we do need oil shale for production. We cooperate with Alutaguse and Lüganuse municipalities and develop the Uus-Kiviõli mine. The Environmental Board has issued a permit to Eesti Energia which allows mining up to six million tonnes of oil shale per year over a period of 30 years.
If you have any questions regarding the new mine, we will be happy to answer them.
Conservation is important to us!
By using crushed stone and limestone, you contribute both to the environment and the circular economy
Enefix, a natural soil improver, increases crop yields
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