US president-elect Donald Trump has nominated Estonian-born lawyer Roman Pipko for US ambassador to Estonia, ERR reports. The US Senate is expected to confirm the nomination. Pipko will replace George Kent, who assumed the ambassadorship in January 2023. Trump noted that Pipko worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Russian-American Enterprise…
The malfunction of the EstLink 2 power cable between Estonia and Finland is likely to raise electricity prices in Estonia, according to energy experts, ERR reports. However, Jaanus Uiga, deputy secretary general at the Ministry of Climate, said that, owing to an increase in renewable energy capacity, the price difference between Estonia and Finland could…
Breaking up Estonia’s state-owned energy group, Eesti Energia, would not improve energy security, Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi stated, ERR reports. Speaking in an interview with Vikerraadio, Ligi insisted that Eesti Energia provided an essential service for society. He said that building a new gas power plant in Narva was a “good idea,” but stressed the…
Estonia’s population decreased by 2,750 people across all municipalities in 2024, according to data from the Ministry of Interior, ERR reports. The population only increased in three counties: Harjumaa, Tartumaa, and Hiiumaa. Estonian capital Tallinn’s population rose by 256 people to 461,602 people, whereas the population of the country’s second-largest city, Tartu, fell by 13…
Estonia is due to receive a US-made M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and other artillery and air defence systems soon, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur announced, ERR reports. Estonia will receive an IRIS-T medium-range air defence system, 18 different mobile artillery pieces, around EUR 700mn worth of ammunition, nearly 200 armoured vehicles, and various…
The passenger train operators of the three Baltic States will open an easier connection from Tallinn via Tartu and Riga to Vilnius on 6 January 2025, BNS reports, citing Vooremaa. The new connection harmonises carrier timetables and will include two transfers. The whole journey from Tallinn to Vilnius will take around 10.5 hours in total,…
The Estonian government may allocate EUR 100mn to state-owned energy company Eesti Energia to speed up the construction of a new gas power plant in Narva, ERR reports. Also, the government is discussing the possible differentiation of renewable energy fees for companies and reducing network tariffs or changing electricity taxes for private consumers. The moves…
Lithuania will propose that the three Baltic States build a joint power plant to ensure flexible electricity production and energy security, Lithuanian Energy Minister Zygimantas Vaiciunas announced, BNS reports. Speaking on LRT, the minister suggested that the power plant could run on gas. He did not elaborate on the possible technology and location of the…
The average annual price of electricity in Estonia stood at EUR 87.27 per MWh in 2024, which was down from EUR 90.79 per MWh in 2023, according to data from the Nord Pool electricity exchange, ERR reports. The highest average price was in January 2024 (EUR 126.5 per MWh) and the lowest in April 2024…