Eesti Energia Granted Permit to Mine for Oil Shale

Eesti Energia has received approval by the Estonian government to mine the Uus-Kiviõli mine, in Estonia.

The permit grants the company permission to mine for 208 million tonnes of oil shale, of the 362 million tonnes the company estimates are available.

The permit will be enacted in January 2014 and is valid for 25 years. Eesti Energi will be entitled to mine 4.2 million tonnes of oil shale in the Uus-Kiviõli mines annually. This amount is in addition to the 15 million tonnes the company currently mines each year.

Eesti Energia, a leader in oil shale production, currently operates two underground mines and two open pit mines. 

The company's website says that construction of the mine will cost between €4 million and €5 million, and is expected to employ between 700 and 900 employees.