In June 2025, TEC Consulting will start its first commissioning project outside of Lithuania – in Estonia, in Auvere. The company will contribute to the commissioning of the new unit of the newly built shale oil plant Enefit 280-2. This is an important step for TEC Consulting to grow in the international market and strengthen its competencies in the oil industry.
Enefit 280-2 is the newest shale oil plant of Enefit Power with an annual design production capacity of approximately 268.000 tons of liquid fuel. The modernized Enefit (Galoter) technology used at the plant allows extracting shale oil more efficiently and significantly reduce environmental pollution. This differs from the model used in the US, which is based on the extraction of liquid oil from shale formations (also known as tight oil through fracking). Enefit 280-2 uses an integrated energy solution – in addition to oil, this plant also produces shale gas and electricity.
The TEC Consulting team will be responsible for one of the three main parts of the facility – commissioning of the condensation unit. This stage is mandatory before a hot technological start-up, where fuel is supplied to the system. After the installation of the new production unit, it is planned to increase the productivity of the entire plant to 30%.
Shale oil is extracted from shale rocks that contain kerogen, an organic matter that can be converted into oil through heating processes. Although shale deposits are found in more than 20 countries, only a few of them extract this raw material on an industrial scale. The main countries where shale oil is commercially extracted are Estonia, China, and Brazil. Estonia stands out among them, as its energy sector has historically relied heavily on oil shale, with production taking place since the early 20th century. Over the past 10 years, however, Estonia has experienced a decline in oil shale mining volumes. Similar to many other countries, it is undergoing a transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, which has reduced the demand for oil shale. Nevertheless, the production of liquid fuels derived from oil shale continues to retain strategic importance. In Estonia, shale is used both as a solid fuel for heat production and as a raw material for oil extraction.
TEC Consulting team, consisting of 15 specialists – process engineers and electrical automation engineers, will participate in the project. Their main goal is to ensure that the condensation unit operates according to the design parameters, meets all safety requirements and is technically prepared for further commissioning stages. The biggest technical challenge is managing the risk of explosion and fire, so special attention will be paid to strict control of compliance with safety procedures and preventive actions.
Although TEC Consulting has already cooperated with clients from Poland, Germany and Denmark, this is the first project in which the company will provide commissioning services outside of Lithuania. It is also the first contract of this scale abroad, marking an important step in the company’s international development.
Until now, TEC Consulting has been involved in projects carried out by Klaipėdos Naftos and Orlen Lietuva in Lithuania, where other technologies were applied to oil refining. The project in Estonia will allow the company to expand its knowledge and competencies in the field of shale oil production, and the experience gained will allow it to successfully compete in the global market and contribute to the implementation of innovative energy solutions in the future.
The completion of the works is planned for December 2025. It is expected that the successful implementation of the project will become a strong foundation for the further development of TEC Consulting in the international oil industry.
