Elenger’s parent company opens one of Estonia’s largest biomethane plants
Today, Minister of Energy and Environment Andres Sutt and Minister of Regional Affairs and Agriculture Hendrik Johannes Terras officially opened Infortar’s Halinga biomethane plant in Pärnu County, which was completed with the support of the European Union. By the end of this year, nearly one-sixth of the gas consumed in Estonia will be locally produced, generated from cattle manure and biowaste.
Infortar Halinga biomethane plant opening June 16, 2026
According to Ain Hanschmidt, Chairman of the Management Board of Infortar, agriculture is among Estonia’s most competitive industries thanks to the country’s favourable natural conditions.
“Estonia is a dairy country and, increasingly, also a gas-producing country. If we were to increase the number of dairy cows three- to fourfold and restore it to the level seen in the early 1990s, we could simultaneously cover Estonia’s entire gas consumption. Expanding biomethane production would strengthen our energy and food security while helping to address environmental challenges in both rural and urban areas,” said Hanschmidt.
The €15 million plant was built by INF Ehitus next to the Halinga dairy farms, while the technical solution was provided by EnviTec Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG, one of Germany’s largest biomethane producers. The project was financed by SEB and supported by the European Union through the NextGenerationEU Recovery and Resilience Facility. Together with its partners, Infortar has invested nearly €30 million in biomethane plants and has previously launched production facilities in Oisu (Järva County), Ilmatsalu (Tartu County), and Vinni (Lääne-Viru County).
The output of the Halinga biomethane plant will be marketed by Elenger, the largest gas supplier in Finland and the Baltic states. The company plans to purchase all of the gas produced at the new facility, transport and inject it into the distribution network, and sell it to end customers.
According to Margus Kaasik, Chairman of the Management Board of Elenger, the company continues to systematically decarbonise natural gas.
“Gas is becoming increasingly local and renewable every year. With the addition of the Halinga plant, the share of biomethane in Estonia’s gas consumption will rise to nearly one-sixth by the end of the year. Biomethane is a realistic transition technology that helps increase the share of renewable energy without compromising security of supply. In addition to significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions, it brings together agriculture, waste management, energy, and transport into a unified circular economy ecosystem,” said Kaasik.
The annual manure output of a single dairy cow can be used to produce approximately 200 kilograms of biomethane, enough to power a vehicle for up to 5,000 kilometres. Today, the largest biomethane customers are public transport operators in Tartu, Rakvere, Jõhvi, and Pärnu. Biomethane is available at Elenger filling stations across Estonia.
“A dream of building a biomethane plant that dates back nearly two decades is becoming reality, and our home municipality of Põhja-Pärnumaa has evolved into a unique autonomous energy island. Renewable energy is already generated in the Tootsi wind farm and in solar parks around Vändra, and now a biomethane plant joins them. As a next step, we plan to work with researchers to further develop the production of local fertilisers from the plant’s digestate,” said Raul Peetson, CEO of Halinga OÜ.
Halinga OÜ is one of Estonia’s largest dairy producers and an important employer in the region, with more than 70 employees. The company’s dairy herd and young stock exceed 3,000 animals, while its cultivated farmland covers 4,500 hectares. Infortar acquired a 51% stake in Halinga, one of Estonia’s largest dairy farming companies located in Pärnu County, in the spring of 2024.
Infortar operates in seven countries, with its principal business areas being maritime transport, energy, and real estate. Infortar holds a 68.47% stake in AS Tallink Grupp, a 100% stake in AS Elenger Grupp, and manages a diversified and modern real estate portfolio of approximately 141,000 square metres. In addition to its three core business areas, Infortar is active in agriculture, civil engineering, construction materials, printing, and several other sectors. The Infortar Group comprises 107 companies, including three associates and two subsidiaries of associates. Excluding associated companies, Infortar employs 6,288 people.
Elenger is the largest privately owned energy company in the Baltic and Finnish region, operating across the entire energy value chain—from trading and production to delivery to end customers. The company serves more than 450,000 customers and employs over 1,000 people across the group. Elenger supplies customers with Western-sourced natural gas and renewable biomethane, and operates approximately 9,000 kilometers of gas distribution networks in Estonia, Latvia, and Poland. The company also sells electricity, including renewable power generated by its own solar parks.
