VKG joins forces with Kohtla-Järve Lions Club

Viru Keemia Grupp (VKG), the largest oil shale processing industry in Estonia, and Kohtla-Järve Lions Club will plant 2000 birch and pine sets on the closed semicoke hills.

The Chairman of the Management Board of VKG Janek Parkman said that the offer of Lions came as a pleasant surprise. “It appears that the attitude that everything connected with ash hills is only the concern of oil shale chemists is changing. Although this year we will plant fewer trees than in earlier years, the tradition that has been upheld for decades will not be broken.”

The future of the semicoke hills that belong to the state will depend on the plan of closing down the hills. The preparation of the plan is coordinated by the Ministry of the Environment and financed from the EU funds. “Before the closure plan is approved, VKG will not plant trees on new hillsides, but will fill vacant spaces on the hillsides that are already covered with trees,” said Parkman.

On 5 May, VKG and nine members of the Kohtla-Järve Lions Club will plant trees.

By now, more than 60 hectares of ash hills have been landscaped. Starting from 1970, more than 160,000 plants and sets have been planted, comprising 28 species of trees and bushes.

VKG is Estonia’s largest chemical industry enterprise that employs 1030 people.

Further information:

Elina Kink
VKG Public Relations Manager
GSM +372 5232 700