Narva seeks shale-oil fallback for winter heating

Estonia’s Enefit Power is seeking permission to use locally produced shale oil as a temporary backup fuel for district heating in Narva during the 2026/27 winter.

The company has fixed the price for around 120 GWh of natural gas, while supplying Narva through the full heating season is expected to require roughly 240 GWh of primary energy.

Enefit therefore wants permission to use shale oil at the Baltic Power Plant between November 1 and April 30. The current environmental permit allows it for no more than 10 days a year, mainly during emergencies and maintenance.

Narva city government has backed the proposal.

The economics are significant: Enefit estimates natural gas at more than €90/MWh of primary energy, including network charges and excise duty, compared with around €50/MWh for locally produced shale oil.

The proposal does not mean Estonia expects a physical gas shortage. It gives Narva a fallback against both high gas prices and possible supply disruption during the winter.