Põlevkivitehased

Põlevkivitehased, or oil shale processing plants, are industrial facilities designed to extract oil and gas from oil shale. These plants utilize various retorting technologies to heat the oil shale in the absence of oxygen, a process that decomposes the organic matter within the rock into shale oil and gas. The resulting products can then be further refined or used as fuel.

Historically, Estonia has been a significant site for oil shale processing due to its large deposits of the resource. The development of these plants has been closely tied to the country's energy sector, with oil shale serving as a primary fuel source for electricity generation for many years. The environmental impact of these operations, including air emissions and the disposal of spent shale, has been a subject of ongoing discussion and technological development aimed at mitigation.

Modern põlevkivitehased aim to improve efficiency and reduce environmental footprints through advancements in retorting methods, such as circulating fluidized bed technologies. Research also continues into alternative uses for oil shale, beyond direct combustion for energy, and into more sustainable extraction processes. The economic viability of oil shale processing is often influenced by global energy prices and environmental regulations.