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In 2006, Estonia began considering nuclear energy development when the prime ministers of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia signed a joint statement supporting a new nuclear power plant in Lithuania. This initiative was part of a broader effort among the Baltic States, spurred by the upcoming closure of Lithuania’s Ignalina nuclear plant as a condition of EU accession.

Eesti Energia, led by Sandor Liive, made significant moves to advance Estonia’s nuclear sector. The company sent three Taltech graduates to study nuclear technology at the Royal Swedish University of Technology, later joined by Marti Jeltsov. These four—Merja Pukari, Henri Ormus, Kaspar Kööp, and Marti Jeltsov—are now among Estonia’s top nuclear experts, with Pukari, Kööp, and Jeltsov holding PhDs and Ormus having extensive experience with Finland’s Fennovoima.

Academician Anto Raukas initiated the formation of the NGO Estonian Nuclear Power Plant, with Kalev Kallemets as CEO, to assess the feasibility of a nuclear plant in Estonia. This was particularly relevant as Lithuania faced political obstacles in its nuclear ambitions. Interest in nuclear energy grew in Estonia amid these developments, prompting Eesti Energia to identify potential sites for a plant and leading the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications to draft the Nuclear Energy Act.

However, many European nuclear projects were delayed due to the high costs and complexities of restarting construction after a long pause. The economic downturn also reduced energy demand, diminishing Estonia’s interest in a nuclear plant. Instead, the government and Eesti Energia opted to build a 300 MWe oil shale power plant in Auvere.

The nuclear power idea remained dormant until 2018, when Kalev Kallemets, Kaspar Kööp, and Henri Ormus reconsidered it. They explored the possibility of using small modular reactors (SMRs) licensed in Canada and the United States, inspired by the Finnish model where energy consumers own the nuclear plant. Technological advancements made nuclear energy a feasible solution for Estonia again, promising reasonable energy prices, security, and climate goal fulfillment.

After thorough preparation, Kalev Kallemets, Sandor Liive, Henri Ormus, Kaspar Kööp, Marti Jeltsov, Merja Pukari, and Mait Müntel founded OÜ Fermi Energia. They believed that achieving carbon reduction targets required a managed, subsidy-free form of carbon-free energy, with nuclear energy being the only viable option for Estonia due to the lack of hydroelectric resources.