Kohtla shale oil extraction plant of New Consolidated Gold Fields Ltd.
New Consolidated Gold Fields began oil shale research and development in the late 1920s in England.[1] In 1930 it began construction of the shale oil extraction complex at Kohtla-Nõmme. It consisted of a shale oil extraction plant, a crushing mill, laboratory, power plant, office building and services facilities, as also housing for 30 workers, dispensary and sauna.[2] The first plant was built in 1931. The plant was equipped with eight rotating retorts (Davidson retorts).[3][4] Each of these retorts was capable of processing 15 tonnes of oil shale per day.[4] This facility continued to operate until 1961.[3] In 1934 the company doubled its production by building the second shale oil extraction plant.[5]
In 1934, Eesti Kiviõli and New Consolidated Gold Fields established the service station chain Trustivapaa Bensiini (now: Teboil) in Finland. During 1940 this chain sold more shale-oil-derived gasoline than did the entire conventional gasoline market in Estonia.[6] In 1937, the company opened the Kohtla underground mine.[3]
After the occupation of Estonia by the Soviet Union, the company was nationalized in 1940. The Kohtla-Nõmme shale oil extraction complex continued to operate until 1961.[3] The underground mine stayed operational until 2001.[7]
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"Inglise õlitööstus kerkib. Majandusministeeriumi juhid ehitustöödega tutvunemas" [British oil shale industry is progressing. Leaders of the Ministry of Economic Affairs Economy to familiarize with construction works]. Postimees. 1930-08-15.
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Lindquist, W. (1937-09-11). "Estländska oljeskifferindustrien" [Estonian oil shale industry]. Teknisk Tidskrift. Kemi (in Swedish) (9): 71–75. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
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"Inglaste põlevkivikaevandus suureneb. Vabrik ehitatakse poolevõrra suuremaks" [British oil shale mining increases. The factory to be built a half bigger]. Postimees. 1934-05-24.
