TALLINN, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Estonian government has initiated the preparation of a national special spatial plan and a strategic environmental impact assessment for the possible construction of a 600-megawatt nuclear power plant (NPP).
The decision was made on Thursday during an off-site cabinet meeting held in Narva, a city in eastern Estonia.
The proposed planning area spans more than 1,200 square kilometers, covering land in Laane-Viru and Ida-Viru counties, as well as maritime zones from the Gulf of Kunda to Narva Bay. The government has pledged to involve local residents, municipal authorities, and other stakeholders throughout the planning and assessment phases.
If approved and implemented on schedule, the first reactor could become operational by 2035. The proposal envisions the construction of two reactors and the development of supporting infrastructure, including a 330-kilovolt transmission line.
Estonia currently relies on three oil shale-fueled thermal power plants with a combined peak capacity exceeding 1,500 megawatts, alongside a growing portfolio of wind farms totaling approximately 340 megawatts. ■