A new environmental program offers over one million euros in grants to project developers and municipalities to mitigate oil shale-related environmental issues. This article provides an overview of the grant's content, impact, and eligible applicants.

Program Overview The Ida-Viru County Program is part of the Environmental Investment Centre (KIK), with a 2025 budget of €1,002,533. Grants are available to local governments, companies, and organizations planning projects aimed at reducing the environmental impact of oil shale mining or processing. The program primarily focuses on nature protection, circular economy, and water management. The application round opens on June 16 at 10:00 AM.

Who Can Apply and For What? Applicants must submit projects that help mitigate environmental risks associated with oil shale in Ida-Viru County. These may include restoring land and water bodies, reducing air pollution, or creating waste monitoring infrastructure. The program also supports resource audits and the development of waste sorting systems. This broad approach enables addressing various environmental challenges.

Public Feedback and Context Local development platforms emphasize that the program offers diverse solutions to regional challenges and directs state support where it is most needed. For example, it can improve water management in areas long affected by oil shale processing. The program also promotes circular economy principles by helping municipalities build better waste handling systems that align with sorting requirements.

Summary and Recommendations

The program is publicly funded and targets activities that help mitigate environmental risks in Ida-Viru County. Eligible applicants include local governments, private companies, and non-profit organizations. Projects must address a specific environmental issue—whether air quality, water sanitation, or waste problems.

If you're considering launching a project, think through:

• what environmental issue you want to solve,
• what kind of impact your proposal could have,
• how to involve informal sectors or the community (e.g., resource audits, waste sorting).

A good starting point might be conducting an initial resource audit or building infrastructure for waste sorting. These measures are suitable in the planning phase and increase your chances of receiving support. The KIK website provides the latest information and detailed guidelines for applying and evaluation.

If you’re planning an environmental project in Ida-Viru County, now is the right time to apply and start cooperating with KIK. The available budget provides strong opportunities, but it's important to act in time and with clear goals.