Estonia adds security assessment to nuclear plant site selection

Estonia will carry out a national-security assessment of the six candidate sites being considered for a planned nuclear power plant in Viru-Nigula and Lüganuse municipalities.

The Ministry of Defence, Defence Forces and Centre for Defence Investments will assess the locations using worst-case scenarios. The review will examine vulnerability to attack, response capability and time, the possibility of expanding and securing the site perimeter, and the vulnerability of cooling systems.

Potential consequences for population centres, critical infrastructure, airports, transport infrastructure and the state border will also form part of the assessment. The work is part of the first stage of Estonia’s national spatial planning process, which will select a preferred location.

Fermi Energia is planning a plant using BWRX-300 reactors. Under the current timetable, construction would begin in 2032, with the first 300 MW reactor expected to start producing electricity in 2036 and a second in 2038.

Source: Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications / ERR, 17 September 2026.