The Ragn-Sells oil shale ash valorisation plant to be built in Narva can offer relief from the fertilizer crisis. In cooperation with the Estonian University of Life Sciences and agricultural enterprises, tests will be started this fall on how to most effectively increase the fertility of Estonian fields using the by-product of the factory of the future.
Oil shale ash, the residue from electricity production in Ida-Virumaa for decades, is not an unfamiliar material for farmers as an alternative to fertilizer. Interest in liming fields with oil shale ash has increased recently as fertilizer prices and availability have become a global problem.
According to Ragn-Sells OSA project sales manager Lauri Laanemäe their unique solution can make shale ash more effective for farmers. "Our main goal is to separate calcium from ash and produce calcium carbonate from it. However, during the separation of calcium from the ash, additional material is also produced, which contains plant nutrients necessary for the crop, such as magnesium, potassium, and sulfur. In total, there are more of these elements per ton than in the current unvalued oil shale ash," described Laanemäe. "The tests are just beginning, but according to our calculations, this material of the future is useful for the field and attractive to the farmer, as this material still helps to regulate the acidity of the fields, but in addition, the same material can now be used to bring a larger amount of valuable nutrients to the soil than before, which increases the fertility of the soil. For spreading on the field, it will be available in a fraction suitable for both rotary and boom drills."
According to the Professor of the Chair of Soil Sciences at the Estonian University of Life Sciences Alar Astover the university is happy to take the next step in the largest circular economy project in the Nordic countries in cooperation with Ragn-Sells, in order to find the best application for the refined oil shale ash by-product. "In Estonia, the fertilizer properties of oil shale ash have been studied for a long time. The properties of the by-product of oil shale ash converted by a new method and its effect as a fertilizer need new proof both in the laboratory and in the field. To this end, at the University of Life Sciences, we are now starting experiments with different soils in laboratory conditions, and in the spring we will set up pilot experiments in outdoor conditions. This will help assess the environmental impact and agronomic and economic efficiency of the new fertilizer," Astover said.
CEO of agricultural services company Landholding OÜ Marek Kruusla has since the beginning of its activities, made it a priority to link the increase of the fertility of agricultural soils in a nature-friendly and environmentally friendly way. "To achieve the goals and strive for climate neutrality, the CO2 footprint must be as small as possible. With this in mind, the service is offered with the best and most environmentally friendly lime in the region, which is oil shale ash. It is good to know that oil shale ash, which works in practice, now gets added value in the form of recycling. In the development of Ragn-Sells' new product, the valorization of oil shale ash and the availability of concentrated plant nutrients in meliorand are evaluated. In the future, we can offer a service with a product where fields are limed climate-neutrally and with a zero CO2 footprint."
According to Ragn-Sells OSA project manager Alar Saluste cooperation with researchers and entrepreneurs is very important for the project. "The shale ash, which has been standing in the mountains of ice for decades, is a great opportunity hidden for Narva, Ida-Virumaa, Estonia and indirectly the whole world. Because we are not only short of fertilizers, but there is also a shortage of many other raw materials. Our research and development work continues, but it is already clear today that a very valuable recycling solution can be found for every last gram of shale ash," said Saluste.
In August, Ragn-Sells submitted an application to the Narva City Council for the initiation of detailed planning, based on which the shale ash valorisation demo plant, which has stood useless in the mountains of Ida-Virumaa for decades, will begin work in 2025 and the main plant in 2028. The plant can reprocess more than one million tons of oil shale ash and bind 250,000 tons of CO2 annually, resulting in the production of approx. 500,000 tons of ultra-pure calcium carbonate. With the help of a unique solution, waste is turned into a new raw material that can be used to produce paints, window frames, floor coverings, paper, medicines and many other items needed in everyday life. The Ragn-Sells factory brings an estimated 250 million euros of investments to the region. Up to 100 direct and 400 indirect jobs will be created. Ragn-Sells has created a subsidiary company R-S OSA Projekt OÜ for the shale ash beneficiation project. Almost 2 million euros have already been invested in the project. The partners of the project are the University of Tartu, TalTech, Eesti Energia, EAS, the Archimedes foundation and the international companies Tarkett and Gealan.
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