The submarine cables Estlink 1 and Estlink 2 between Estonia and Finland have been completed and an additional electricity connection to Latvia is currently under construction. In the gas market, the priority is to fully develop a regional gas market encompassing the Baltic States and Finland by 2022 at the latest, and to provide Estonian gas market participants with equal access to regional gas infrastructure (gas storage facilities, LNG terminals, transit pipelines). We have expanded the Baltic gas market to the north with the Balticconnector and we are continuing to extend it southwards – the Lithuania-Poland gas pipeline is expected to be completed this year.
At the same time, Estonia is the country least dependent on energy imports among European Union Member States. Thanks to the use of oil shale and an increasing share of renewable fuels, we are able to meet a large portion of our country’s energy needs domestically.
We are working to ensure that Estonia can maintain and further enhance its energy independence, even in the face of stricter energy and climate policies. Ultimately, the aim of the market-based energy policy of Estonia is to secure energy independence, security of supply and competitive energy prices – the key conditions for economic growth.
International cooperation
Estonia has been a member of the International Energy Agency since November 2013. This grants Estonia access to highly valued energy policy analyses and sectoral forecasts. This membership also provides Estonia an opportunity to share its unique oil shale valorisation experience and expertise with international energy policymakers.
International energy agencyLegislation and supervision
The Energy Sector Organisation Act provides the measures for achieving the national target of energy efficiency, the requirements for improving energy efficiency and the parties on whom obligations are imposed in the public as well as in the private sector.
Supervision over market participants is conducted by the Estonian Competition Authority, with whom economic operators engaged in district heating, electricity, gas transmission and distribution must co-ordinate their tariffs.
This supervision provides consumers with confidence that economic operators are not exploiting their monopoly market position to generate unreasonably high profits. In addition, the Competition Authority ensures that the investments of economic operators in improving the technical condition of networks and developing energy infrastructure are reasonable and carried out in a timely manner.
Last updated: 10.02.2025
