Estonia's largest investment holding company

Elenger has organized reportedly the region's first cross-border biomethane trade transaction, acquiring biomethane from the Czech Republic for the BLRT group company operating in Latvia.

"This step is important for promoting the green transition in the Baltic region – we tested the regulations of different countries and the readiness of system operators and gained confidence that biomethane can be successfully and seamlessly acquired across multiple national borders and gas networks," said Margus Kaasik, Chairman of the Board of Elenger Grupp.

"For Elenger, this means strengthening its position as the leading seller of biomethane in the Baltics. In Estonia, we are developing local biomethane production in several biomethane plants together with partners, and the gas is currently being sold at filling stations for use as transport fuel. At the same time, we see potential for biomethane in heating and are considering the possibility of importing biomethane to meet growing demand," Kaasik added.

Biomethane is a renewable and environmentally friendly energy source, with a composition similar to natural gas, making it suitable for use in heating and as transport fuel. It helps industry, transport, and heating sectors meet climate goals.

Biomethane is produced by fermenting organic waste and agricultural residues and is fully compatible with the existing natural gas infrastructure. Companies associated with Elenger currently operate biomethane production stations in Oisu, Järva County, Ilmatsalu, Tartu County, and Vinni, Lääne-Viru County, and biomethane is sold as motor fuel at gas stations across Estonia.

An indoor golf training facility for the national golf team opened in Tallink Tennis Centre. Equipped with cutting-edge technology, the centre now enables national team members to practise all year round.

In his opening speech, the President of the Estonian Golf Association, Ain Hanschmidt, expressed his gratitude to the members of the national team’s supporters’ club, whose contributions made the establishment of this facility possible. “This centre has been created entirely with private capital – the investment in equipment alone amounted to nearly €200,000, with additional support from Tallink and Infortar in providing the premises. We have acquired state-of-the-art technology, the same used by the world’s best players, and we hope to continue expanding the centre with additional facilities in the future. The technology in use allows us to assist national team members year-round, no matter where in the world they are competing, as some of the equipment is portable and can be carried in a backpack,” Hanschmidt explained.

"From today onwards, no member of the national golf team should have any difficulties finding training opportunities in winter, as the newly established indoor facility can accommodate a sufficient number of players at once. Now, it is up to the players and their coaches to make the most of these opportunities. The investment might seem significant at first, but considering the experiences of other countries, many national associations have spent several million on similar facilities," said Kristo Raudam, Secretary General of the Estonian Golf Association.

"For example, I recently had the chance to visit Europe’s largest indoor golf centre in Austria, where the local association invested millions in its development. However, they have only one more TrackMan hitting bay than we do, and we also have an undulating putting machine in use. The only difference is that they have built a larger short game area and can accommodate bigger training groups at once. Our neighbouring countries, Latvia and Finland, have already shown great interest in our facility, as they are considering creating similar indoor centres for themselves," Raudam added.

One of the largest and most modern commercial real estate developments in recent years has been opened in Laagri, on the outskirts of Tallinn – the 25,000 m² Rimi logistics centre, built by Infortar. The total investment in the project amounts to €27 million.

“Investments made during an economic downturn create a foundation for economic growth. Our collaboration with a strong partner, Rimi, an international retail giant firmly established in Estonia, provided additional investment security. For Infortar, this represents a significant expansion of our real estate portfolio. Over the past year, we have nearly doubled our holdings, making us one of the largest real estate owners in the Baltics,” said Ain Hanschmidt, CEO of Infortar.

According to Kristel Mets, CEO of Rimi Estonia, the new facility provides modern working conditions for Rimi employees, enhances complex warehouse operations, and elevates Rimi Kitchen’s production to a completely new and modern level, benefiting all customers. "The logistics centre had been in our plans for a very long time, and we are sincerely delighted that it turned out exactly as we envisioned," said Kristel Mets, Member of the Management Board at Rimi Estonia, expressing gratitude to all parties involved for the smooth, high-quality, and timely execution of the project.

The new building includes a 17,900 m² logistics centre, a 4,000 m² Rimi headquarters, and a 2,300 m² central kitchen. The logistics centre was built by INF Ehitus, with construction work beginning in the spring of 2023. The project incorporated innovative technologies, including a ground load distribution method that facilitated the removal of excess water through drainage systems, ensuring the necessary load-bearing capacity for the building. A key feature of the construction was the inclusion of a hot kitchen facility supplying Rimi stores and large freezer chambers, both essential for food handling and storage.