Narva: The Ultimate Source of Power

The Estonian city may seem quiet, but there is more power fueling Narva than appearances provide.

Located on the eastern extreme point of Estonia, Narva sits near the Russian border and Narva River. Known for its landmark Long Hermann tower and picturesque Ivangorod fortress, Narva is the third largest city in Estonia.

What lies just outside of Narva near the border with Leningrad Oblast, Russia however, are the Narva Power Plants--responsible for generating nearly 95% of total power production in Estonia. Owned by a subsidiary of Eesti Energia, the complex additionally exports electricity to the Baltic countries and Nordic countries via the Estlink undersea cable. This makes Estonia the most energy independent state in the European Union in recent years--the electricity  produced in Estonia alone could supply upwards of 7.5 million people.

Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid recently voiced concerns surrounding the power plants. Kaljulaid stated, “While we do not buy our electricity from Russia, we are connected to their main grid. We believe it is in our best interests to be connected to the European grid instead-- it is just an additional layer of security”.

Kaljulaid additionally voiced concerns that aggression from the Russian border may target the power plant. “If Russia threatens us, it will most likely appear in the form of a communication attack--they may try to cut off some of the power system”.