Contract for the new demo plant in Narva is signed

R-S OSA Service, part of the Ragn-Sells group, signed a lease agreement with the Ida-Viru Investment Agency (IVIA), according to which the oil shale ash valorization plant will begin operations in 2026 in a new industrial building to be established in the Kulgu Industrial Park in Narva.

“Nii Eestis kui ka Euroopas on mitmeid ettevõtteid, kes juba ootavad meie demotehase ülipuhast kaltsiumkarbonaati, et jätkata arendustöid ja muuta oma tooted keskkonnasõbralikumaks,” ütles viis aastat Ida-Virumaa tööstusjäätmete väärindamise projekti juhtinud Ragn-Sellsi gruppi kuuluva R-S OSA Service OÜ juhatuse liige Alar Saluste:"Now we can say that the negotiations have concluded, the plant location is set, the construction work on the industrial building and technology installation procurement are underway, and we hope to move into the factory by the end of this year."   

Majandus- ja tööstusminister Erkki Keldo According to Minister of Economy and Industry Erkki Keldo, R-S OSA Service's investment in Narva is an important step in developing Ida-Viru County's industrial potential. "The establishment of the demo plant is a good example of how science-based innovation helps turn industrial waste into a valuable export item. This is exactly the kind of high-tech industry we should be moving toward, where scientists are involved and which grows the local economy and its competitiveness, creates jobs, and supports Ida-Viru's green transition," Keldo added.

Since 2019, Ragn-Sells has been developing technology in cooperation with Estonian scientists that enables the use of calcium and silicon-rich industrial waste to produce new and valuable raw materials. In collaboration with scientists from the University of Tartu and TalTech, one possibility being studied is the production of calcium carbonate from oil shale ash, of which nearly 600 million tons have accumulated in mountains in Ida-Viru County as a residue of electricity production.  

Tänaseks on juba toimunud rahvusvahelised tehnoloogiahanked, mille tulemusena jõuavad suveks kaheksast riigist Eestisse erinevad demotehase seadmed. Uues demotehases konstrueeritakse nende põhjal rätseplahendusena maailmas ainulaadne tootmisprotsess, mis hakkab põlevkivituhast koos CO2-ga tootma kaltsiumkarbonaati. Tegemist on unikaalse protsessiga, kuivõrd põlevkivituhast on seni taaskasutatavaid tooraineid välja võetud vaid väikestes kogustes, sisuliselt teaduslaborite tasemel.  

IVIA board member Teet Kuusmik said that the Narva Industrial Incubator will be completed by the end of 2025, and the project aims to provide a suitable location for innovative industrial companies. "R-S OSA Service is the best example of a client we expect at our new facility. The launch of the new demo plant and the production of necessary products from ash is an excellent example of a circular economy project for valorizing oil shale industry waste," Kuusmik added.

In parallel with establishing the demo plant and developing the technology, R-S OSA Service is already working to establish an industrial plant in Narva that will produce 500,000 tons of calcium carbonate annually and create approximately 50-100 direct jobs. For the Estonian state, this would be an important export item, as the quality of calcium carbonate produced from oil shale ash is as high as that produced from naturally mined limestone with a large carbon footprint. Additionally, tests have already proven that it has the same high quality as the raw material and is suitable for the production of paints, floor coverings, window frames, and many other consumer goods. 

Eesti ja Euroopa tööstuste huvi tuhast toodetud PCC vastu on juba märkimisväärne, sest sinna seotakse rohkem CO2, kui selle tootmisel emiteeritakse. See asjaolu aitab välja vahetada praegu tööstustes kasutatava saastava tooraine, tänu millele saavad nad vähendada oma toodete keskkonna jalajälge ja täita kliimaeesmärke.