17.07.2026
The construction of Rail Baltica between Tootsi and Pärnu will receive 800,000 tons of aggregate produced as a by-product of mines in Ida-Virumaa – this amount is comparable to the volume of a 5,5-hectare quarry, or about 8 football fields in size, which now does not need to be mined in the region.
The construction of Rail Baltica between Tootsi and Pärnu will receive 800,000 tons of aggregate produced as a by-product of mines in Ida-Virumaa – this amount is comparable to the volume of a 5,5-hectare quarry, or about 8 football fields in size, which now does not need to be mined in the region.
Material previously considered waste is now being used to build railway embankments and access roads. Transport of ore from Ida-Virumaa to Pärnu is already underway.
Crushed stone produced from the waste rock generated at Enefit Industry's Estonia mine in Ida-Viru County will replace sand and crushed stone as aggregate, reducing the use of local mines. The agreement was reached after successful trial runs last winter, during which a total of 10,000 tonnes of waste rock were delivered by train from Ida-Viru County to Pärnu. The aim of the trials was to assess the operation of large-scale railway logistics and the suitability of the material for the construction of Rail Baltica.
Tailings are a by-product of oil shale enrichment, similar to limestone rubble, that remains after the valuable oil shale used for producing liquid fuels and electricity has been separated from the extracted mass. In processed form, tailings can be used, among other things, in the construction of roads and railways.
Less mining in Pärnu County
Lauri Ulm, Technical Director and Board Member of Rail Baltic Estonia, noted that the use of mine waste is an important opportunity to diversify the supply chain of materials needed for the construction of Rail Baltica.
"We need very large quantities of material for the construction of the Tootsi-Pärnu section, and this would put a heavy burden on local quarries," Ulm noted. "The use of mineral resources provides an opportunity to include material already available in Estonia in the construction, reduce transportation from regional quarries and ensure the security of supply necessary for the work. Trial transportation showed that the solution works in terms of both material and logistics, as confirmed by the regular transportation that has begun."
According to Tarmo Virkus, member of the board of Enefit Industry, the use of mine waste in the construction of Rail Baltica shows that the wider use of by-products of the oil shale industry has come into practice.
"The use of crushed stone produced from mining waste in the construction of Rail Baltica is a good example of the circular economy in practice. The material, which is generated as a by-product of oil shale mining, will gain new value in the construction of one of Estonia's most important infrastructure projects. In this way, we will reduce the need for mineral extraction and give Ida-Viru County industry an important role in building the railway of the future," said Virkus.
Transportation takes place by rail
The transport of the spoil will be carried out by rail, first to Tallinn, to the Kopli freight station, and then to Pärnu. The trial transports tested the functioning of the entire supply chain, from loading and train assembly to the arrival of the material at the Rail Baltica construction site. The successful trial transports provided assurance that the same solution can also be used for large-scale regular transports.
Rail Baltica's mining waste transport is a good example of how railways can support the implementation of large infrastructure projects.
"Today, the carrying capacity of one freight train reaches 1800-2000 tons, and it is technically possible to increase it to 3000 tons. This means that approximately 60-70 trucks would not have to travel on Estonian roads every day to service the same carrying capacity. This is precisely why rail transport is one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly modes of freight transport, helping to reduce both traffic congestion and the environmental impact of the transport sector," said Alar Pinsel, Development and Safety Manager at Operail.
The transport of waste from the Estonia mine in Ida-Virumaa to Pärnu began in mid-June. 800,000 tons of crushed stone produced from waste will be delivered to the construction of Rail Baltica over two years.
The article was published on July 10, 2026 as a content marketing story in Õhtuleht.
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