Estlink 3 Construction Leaves Local Residents in Uncertainty for 10 Years

Estonian grid operator Elering is advancing preparations for the Estlink 3 submarine cable connection and a fourth Latvia link, expected to be completed around 2038-2040. Local residents are concerned that planned corridors will subject their land to usage restrictions for an extended period. An investment decision will be made in the early 2030s.

Estonian grid operator Elering is working on two major energy infrastructure projects in parallel: building the new Estlink 3 submarine cable to Finland and establishing a fourth cross-border link to Latvia. Both projects are being treated as a single integrated package and, according to current estimates, will be completed in the 2038-2040 timeframe.

Local Concerns Growing

The planning process is, however, causing serious concern among local residents: people are uncertain about what restrictions will be imposed on their land in coming years. According to current plans, the corridors under examination in the special plan are 120-140 metres wide, though the actual restriction zone will be narrower, roughly 80 metres.

At the municipal level, residents' concerns have been acknowledged, but final decisions rest on agreements made between the special planner and landowners. "The special plan organiser will agree the conditions with the landowner at the approval stage. That is the essence of the special plan. The local authority can express its position. We understand and support the landowners' concerns, but the final decisions are made by the landowner and the special planner," explained municipal mayor Kristjan Tamm to ERR.

Elering: We Will Decide in the Early 2030s

Elering's head of international connections development, Priit Heina, stressed that the planning phase is currently underway and specific investment decisions will be made much later. "Various studies can be conducted and different scenarios obtained. The truth is that when we make an investment decision in the early 2030s, we will try to rely on the most accurate knowledge available at that time," said Heina.

The Ministry of Climate, for its part, acknowledged that postponing the projects means that decisions on implementation will also come later. Energy Minister Andres Sutt explained that today's decisions may not be relevant in ten years' time. "Decisions made ten years ago may not be relevant over the next ten years. Whether they will be necessary in ten years' time will become clear at the moment of the investment decision," the minister said.