National Development Plan for the Use of Oil Shale 2016-2030

The National Development Plan for the Use of Oil Shale 2016-2030 is a national sectoral plan of Estonia. It provides that the general objective of the oil shale sector is the enforcement of national interest, which means the effective and efficient use of oil shale as a nationally strategic resource and in ensuring the sustainable development of the oil shale sector. In implementing public interest, environmental protection, economic, security, social, and demographic (including regional) objectives and risks need to be considered. The oil shale development plan sets three strategic objectives arising from the necessity of implementing national interest: increasing the efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of oil shale mining; increasing the efficiency and reducing the environmental impact of oil shale use; and developing education and research activities related with oil shale. The implementation of the first two strategic objectives ensures an increase in the efficiency of the oil shale industry and the reduction of the accompanying negative environmental impact, and is supported by the third strategic objective – the development of education and research activities related with oil shale. Achieving the general objective of the field of oil shale depends on the implementation of national interest, which is confirmed by the fulfilment of the target level of the indicators set for achieving the strategic objectives. A full overview of the activity necessary for fulfilling the measures together with the responsible executors and the estimated expenses will be submitted in the implementation plan and explanatory report attached to the oil shale development plan.