Ecology, Economic History, Energy, Energy Market, Estonia

"The dam of the Linnamae hydroelectric power plant is the biggest and the most remarkable dam built in Estonia before WWII," Saar said in a letter to Minister of Environment Marko Pomerants and Finance Minister Sven Sester.

"The dam of the Linnamae hydroelectric power plant is a remarkable, large-scale concrete structure and piece of engineering construction executed on a high professional level, which following its completion was named most beautiful industrial building of Estonia," Saar said. He said the dam of the power plant is in a good state of repair, having been reconstructed in 2002, and performs its original function.

"I find that there is important and valid public interest in the preservation of the Linnamae dam as a piece of cultural heritage, which in its turn is a prerequisite for the preservation of the Linnamae dam lake and the landscape that has evolved in the area during 90 years," it stands in the letter by Saar.

The minister added that protected buildings are preserved in the best manner when used, and therefore he intends to declare the dam a cultural monument.

"The Linnamae hydroelectric power plant is in a good state of repair at the moment and performs its original function, which means that renewable energy is produced there," he said.

The minister observed that, at the same time, the Linnamae dam and its zone extend to the Jagala special conservation area and its preservation as a national monument has to do with the conservation objectives of the Jagala nature area, whereas adding that in assessing the environmental impact also the impact on cultural heritage is significant environmental impact.

The Linnamae hydroelectric power plant belonging to Eesti Energia is the biggest hydroelectric power plant and the second most powerful hydroelectric power plant in Estonia. The plant has a capacity of 1.15 megawatts and it produces approximately 6,000 megawatt-hours of electricity per year, enough to supply about 3,000 households.

Eesti Energia has been engaged in a dispute over the production of electricity at Jagala with the Environmental Board for many years. Under a regulation signed by the minister of environment, Jagala River is listed as a body of water protected as a habitat of salmonidae. Under the Water Act, the passage of fish must be guaranteed both up- as well as downstream on a dam constructed on a water body, or on a stretch thereof, approved as a spawning area and habitat of salmon, brown trout, salmon trout or grayling, by Jan. 1, 2013.

Eesti Energia has failed comply with that requirement. In 2011, the company drew up a preliminary design of a fish passage and filed an application for co-financing with the Environmental Investment Center. Construction of the fish passage was never started because it was unclear whether or not it will give the desired effect.

As a result, Eesti Energia losing the permit for the special use of water to produce electric energy at Linnamae has been always a risk. The company's current permit expires at the end of this year.