Estonia's Aidu defense park must address groundwater risks
The Climate Ministry wants to ensure that the explosives factory planned for the Aidu quarry, Lüganuse Parish does not endanger groundwater or hinder nature's recovery on the former mining site. The Ministry of Defense promises that the defense‑industry park will not harm the environment.
According to the Ministry of Defense's plan, two defense‑industry parks will be built in Ida‑Viru County. The first will be in Põhja‑Kiviõli, where a national special plan has already been approved and a suitable company selected. The second park is planned for the Aidu area, on the site of an old oil‑shale quarry where mining ended nearly 15 years ago.
The Ministry of Defense considered the former industrial area very suitable for establishing a defense‑industry park, and major environmental concerns were not expected. This was also confirmed by the ministry's commissioned strategic environmental impact assessment report.
At the same time, a study on the condition of Aidu quarry water bodies was published, showing that a viable ecosystem has developed there over 15 years. Even the bullhead — a protected fish species — has settled in the quarry lakes, indicating very clean water.
The Climate Ministry wants the Ministry of Defense to take the new study into account and ensure that the explosives industry does not worsen the condition of Aidu's water bodies.
"Our studies show that all the life in the Aidu quarry water bodies is recovering. Now, if an explosives factory is built, we do not want those substances to reach the quarry waters and degrade the situation again," said Siret Valge, project manager at the Climate Ministry's water department.
"There is also an unprotected groundwater layer in the Aidu quarry. Pollution can spread very easily into groundwater, and it is extremely difficult to remove once it gets there," Valge added.
Another concern is the Purtse River, which has required extensive effort and resources over the years to clean up oil‑shale industry pollution.
"The water coming from the explosives factory must meet quality standards so that it does not harm the Purtse River basin," Valge said.
The Ministry of Defense acknowledges that the study on Aidu quarry water bodies was new information for them, but they intend to take the Climate Ministry's comments and proposals into account.
"In the coming weeks, our experts will review the Climate Ministry's positions and the study they referenced. Based on that, we will adjust our strategic environmental impact assessment materials. The principle is that the activities of our industrial park must not harm surface water or groundwater in any way. We must and will adhere to that principle," said Indrek Sirp, special adviser for defense‑industry development at the Ministry of Defense.
Both ministries confirm that although developers of the defense‑industry park must now meet more extensive environmental requirements, the new data on Aidu quarry water bodies should not change the construction timeline for the explosives factory.
A public discussion of the strategic environmental impact assessment report is still ahead.
The plan is expected to be approved in autumn.
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Editor: Anna Gerda Nurmetalo, Argo Ideon
