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President Ilves: Narva is the city of good energy and devoted people

04.02.2009

Today President Toomas Hendrik Ilves visited one of the most important energy producers in the Baltic region—Narva Power Plants.

“Narva Power Plants is one of the pillars of Estonian energy security,” the President said at a meeting with the heads of Eesti Energia and the power plants.

Narva Power Plants, with its 1,527 employees, is one of the largest employers in the area and supplies electrical power to Estonian consumers and thermal energy to the city of Narva. It also produces liquid fuels, exports electrical power to other Baltic countries, and supplies the Nordic electrical market through the Estlink cable.

President Ilves was given an introduction to the future scenarios for energy production, including the issues related to possible nuclear power generation and the situation that will develop after the Lithuanian nuclear power plant is closed.

The Head of State acknowledged the work of the energy workers in East-Viru Country, saying, “Narva’s slogan is “The City of Good Energy”, but we should definitely add, “The City of Capable People”, because it is their work that keeps our homes lit and companies operating.”

President Ilves also labeled as forward looking the Narva Power Plants’ cost-saving program and cooperation between the company and the trade unions. The cooperation has resulted in a year-long collective contract that will come into force in April. The new contract will freeze the salaries of the energy workers while preserving all their current benefits.

“It is inevitable that everyone will have to sacrifice a fraction of their current wellbeing in the name of pulling through the current economic crisis, but our objective must be for everyone to benefit once Estonia starts its recovery,” President Ilves said.

At the Head of State’s meeting with Vladimir Aleksejev and Vladislav Ponjatovski, leaders of the power workers’ trade union, the discussion centered on the need for a substantive social dialogue between trade unions, employers and the government.

Office of the President
Public Relations Department
Phone +372 631 6229