TALLINN, November 7, 2026 — Estonia has reduced the list of potential sites for its first nuclear power plant from six to three, concentrating all remaining options in Viru-Nigula Rural Municipality in Lääne-Viru County. The Ministry of Defence excluded a site in Lüganuse, Ida-Viru County, on security grounds.
Security Assessment Shapes Shortlist
The three areas still under consideration are Madala, Malla, and Letipea, all located approximately 120 kilometers east of Tallinn. Project manager Agnes Lihtsa confirmed the decision rests primarily on input received from the Ministry of Defence. Lihtsa described the security analysis as a standard procedure where various state institutions assess issues within their competence. The ministry concluded that three locations could proceed while three could not.
Detailed Analyses and Public Input Next
More detailed analyses and comparative studies will now be conducted for the three selected sites. Initial route alternatives for the necessary infrastructure are planned for public presentation and local discussion in early 2027. Lihtsa acknowledged a delay of several months in the process, attributing it to the clarification of methodology. She noted that substantive work is only now beginning.
Regulatory Framework and Timeline
The government launched a national special spatial planning procedure and strategic environmental assessment for a plant of up to 600 MW in May 2025. The Nuclear Energy and Safety Act was approved by the government in March 2026 and passed the Riigikogu in the summer, establishing a legal framework and designating the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority as the nuclear regulator. The act requires parliamentary approval before any reactor construction can begin.
In October 2026, €2.2 million was allocated to fund the regulator, which will initially employ 13 specialists with staffing planned to grow to around 40 within four years. Estonia currently has no nuclear power plants, though a Small Modular Reactor facility has been discussed for years. If a plant is built, electricity generation would not begin before 2035 at the earliest.
Sources
- Estonia narrows nuclear power plant sites to three — ERR News
- Estonia narrows nuclear plant search to three sites in Viru-Nigula
Photo: Margo Evardson / Unsplash (Unsplash License)
