As a fresh member of the International Energy Agency, Estonian officials are hoping for support for shale oil production.
Minister of Economic Affairs Juhan Parts said one of the main topics in a meeting with the organization's representatives yesterday, the first day of membership, was the futu of oil shale - not just in Estonia, but in the world, reported ETV.
"Our interest should be greater attention for oil shale in finding a solution for the world's energy challenges," Parts said.
When the director of the IEA presented an analysis of Estonia's energy sector in September, the main conclusion was that the industry should become more versatile. Estonia is still set apart from other OECD countries by its dependence on a single dominant energy source - oil shale, the analysis said. Another weakness is Estonia's reliance on Russian gas and its energy isolation from the rest of Europe.
But the organization also recognized steps already taken to reduce pollution and increase the share of renewable energy.
Estonia began accession talks with the organization in 2011. The IEA is an independent organization founded by the OECD. Only members of the OECD, an international organization whose 34 member states are mostly high-income economies, can join the IEA.
http://news.err.ee/economy/77d50e4b-f860-420e-953c-55e64ddc1e23