The Estonian subsidiary of a Lithuanian energy company is making preparations to build a gas-fired power plant in southern Estonia.
What happened
A potential site for the power plant has been identified in Kastre Municipality, Tartu County, due to its proximity to a main gas transmission pipeline and a 330-kilovolt electricity transmission network.
According to the CEO of Ignitis Estonia, the company's interest in building the power plant stems from the need to support Estonia's electricity system in the event of a blackout. The power plant would be able to start up and operate independently to restart the system when needed.
The company has submitted an application to initiate a detailed spatial plan, but has stressed that this does not constitute a final investment decision. Other locations in southern Estonia are also being considered.
The cost of building the power plant is estimated to be around €200 million. The municipality has not yet begun processing the application, as other companies are also interested in building a gas-fired power plant in the area.
