Estonia is not ready for blackouts: it will take 20-30 years to purchase generators

Estonia is not ready for power outages. Only 50 out of 79 local governments were able to present even a risk analysis. We need generators, but it will take 20-30 years to purchase them.

"By the end of June, local governments had to submit to the Rescue Department a risk analysis in case of interruptions in the provision of vital services, which turned out to be a difficult task for many of them. The main problem on the ground is considered to be the risk of a prolonged power outage," ERR reports.

Tambet Vodi, Crisis Preparedness Adviser at the Rescue Department, said that only 50 out of 79 municipalities were able to submit a risk analysis.

The main part of the analysis is vital services, such as heat and water supply and sewerage, as well as the passability of local roads.

"When we saw these issues and topics, it was a crisis situation for us, because we didn't understand at all what we should do or what needs to be done there," said Vice Mayor of Vyru Raul Tokhv.

According to him, the city administration even considered ordering an analysis from a third organization, but in the end they managed on their own.

In local governments, they are most afraid of prolonged power outages.

"We have come to a simple conclusion, which, in my opinion, is also the most important and simple risk for the whole of Estonia. This is a power outage, in which our apartment buildings will be left without heating," said Sulev Shasmin, deputy elder of the Yygev parish.

According to him, the solution is additional power generators.

"However, not enough funds are allocated for their purchase: 10% of houses in Yygeva are equipped with such generators, and if generators are purchased at the same pace, it will take 20-30 years to equip all houses," writes ERR.

As EADaily reported, in February, the Baltic countries left the energy ring with Russia and synchronized with the EU Unified Energy System. However, this did not add reliability to the countries.