Rein Sikk: Time to End Dismissive Attitude Toward Oil Shale in Estonia
In a Vikerraadio broadcast, Rein Sikk argued that Estonia's oil shale era may not be over. He criticised politicians over their approach to the industry and the effects of the green transition on energy policy.
Speaking on Vikerraadio, Estonia's public radio channel, Rein Sikk said that the oil shale era in Estonia may not yet be over. He made the remarks after attending the opening of the new Uus-Kiviõli oil shale mine, and called for an end to what he described as a dismissive attitude toward the resource. The views are the author's own, not established fact.
The new mine and plant
Sikk said the new mine will provide jobs for 1,500 people. They will be employed by Viru Keemia Grupp, a company that processes oil shale into chemical products. He also mentioned Enefit, which recently opened a large shale oil production plant. According to Sikk, politicians did not attend the openings of either facility, although they usually stand in the front row at such events.
Criticism of energy policy
Sikk recalled that at the 2013 opening of the Ojamaa mine, President Toomas Hendrik Ilves said Estonia was one of the European Union countries least dependent on energy imports. Sikk argued the situation has since been reversed: Estonia now buys expensive electricity on the exchange and plans gas-fired power plants, even though the gas would have to be imported.
He claimed that court cases brought by young climate activists against the oil shale industry delayed construction of a state-owned oil plant and added millions of euros to its cost. In his view, officials and politicians failed to defend oil shale power generation in Brussels and allowed harsh CO2 emission charges to be imposed. He also criticised the Auvere power plant, saying its technology was designed for burning hard coal and is unsuited to oil shale, citing an article by Professor Alar Konist in the journal Riigikogu Toimetised.
Sikk compared the mood at the mine opening with a meeting in Jüri in October 1986, where Estonia's heritage protection movement began, and said he hopes a "normal green era" is starting.
