Estonia narrows nuclear plant search to three Viru-Nigula sites

Estonia has narrowed the search for a nuclear power plant to three possible sites in Viru-Nigula municipality: Madala, Malla and Letipea, ERR reported. The sites initially considered in Lüganuse municipality have been excluded.

Project manager Agnes Lihtsa of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications said the Lüganuse sites were ruled out on security grounds, based mainly on input from the Ministry of Defence. A security assessment is a standard part of the planning process, she said.

Authorities will now analyse and compare the three remaining locations. They plan to prepare initial route alternatives by early next year and present them to the public for discussion with local residents.

Lihtsa said refining the assessment methodology caused a delay of about two months, but the process was otherwise proceeding as planned.

The government launched a special national spatial plan and strategic environmental assessment for a 600-megawatt electrical capacity nuclear power plant and its required infrastructure in May 2025.