Estonia shortlists three sites for up to 600 MW nuclear power plant

Estonia has reduced the number of potential locations for its first nuclear power station from six to three, concentrating the search in Viru-Nigula municipality, around 120km east of Tallinn, after security concerns ruled out other sites, Estonia's public broadcaster ERR.ee reported on November 10.

The decision marks another step towards introducing nuclear generation into Estonia's electricity mix, potentially reducing dependence on fossil fuels and strengthening long-term energy security. The proposed facility, with capacity of up to 600 MW, would use small modular reactor (SMR) technology, although electricity production is not expected before 2035.

The remaining candidate locations are Madala, Malla and Letipea, all in Laane-Viru County. A previously considered site in Luganuse, further east in Ida-Viru County, was excluded following a security assessment.

The Defence Ministry's assessment concluded that three of the original six locations could proceed to further examination, while the others should be eliminated.

Detailed assessments will now examine the remaining locations, with preliminary infrastructure route alternatives expected to be presented for public consultation in early 2027.

The selection process has slipped by several months because of revisions to the assessment methodology.

Estonia launched its national spatial planning and strategic environmental assessment process in May 2025.

The government subsequently approved nuclear energy legislation in March 2026, with parliament adopting the framework during the summer. The legislation establishes nuclear safety oversight and requires parliamentary approval before construction can proceed.

In October, Estonia allocated €2.2mn to establish its nuclear safety regulator, initially employing 13 specialists, with staffing expected to increase to approximately 40 over four years.

The project remains at the planning stage, with no final site selected or construction decision taken, ERR.ee reported.