Baltic States – CIS, Energy, Estonia, EU – Baltic States, Security

Photo: valitsus.ee

Prime Minister Taavi Rõivas said that Estonia’s strategic objective is to achieve energy independence from Russian sources of supply. “The most important steps towards this are the establishment of a new power line between Estonia and Latvia and the construction of a gas pipeline between Estonia and Finland,” Prime Minister Rõivas said.

On Pakri Peninsula, the Prime Minister got acquainted with one possible location for the gas pipeline Balticconnector, which is to be established between Estonia and Finland. 

Balticconnector was also a central topic at yesterday’s meeting with Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb. “The gas pipeline is of strategic importance for both countries and we have agreed that Estonia and Finland will move forward with this project as quickly as possible,” Rõivas said. 

The Prime Minister also visited Alexela Terminal AS, located there on Pakri Peninsula, where he met with the heads of Alexela Group to discuss the plans for establishing a LNG terminal, which is another project besides the connection with Finland that has the potential to increase energy security.

Rõivas also got acquainted with Pakri Windmill Park and Kiisa Emergency Reserve Power Plant, which is an important object from the point of view of security of electricity supply. 

According to the Prime Minister, the implementation of Estlink 1 and Estlink 2 and the newly opened Kiisa Emergency Reserve Power Plant have already provided us with significantly greater independence and security of supply. There is still the third power line in the direction of Latvia for which an agreement with the electricity transmission system operator in Latvia has been entered into and it is expected to receive funding from the European Union already in the near future.

“Our goal is to achieve full independence from the electrical connections of Northwest Russia and synchronise our electricity supply with Europe,” Rõivas said.

The Prime Minister also visited the world’s leading energy and automation company ABB and exporting timber company Bole OÜ. 

The Prime Minister also met with the Harju County Governor and the senior officials of local government from Rae and Jõelähtme Parish and the council members from Saku and Raasiku Parish in order to discuss the Rail Baltica issue.