In the present paper historical review is given on the development of the oil shale processing industry in Estonia and Russia, including information on the use of different processing retorts for the production of shale oil and shale-derived domestic gas. Volumes of oil shale retorting and of the products manufactured are given. Technical potential for further development of commercially viable retorting technologies for low-temperature processing (semicoking) of large-particle and fine-grained oil shale is also shown. A practically ecologically clean technology of semicoking large-particle oil share has been developed.