AST signs environmental impact assessment agreement for new 330 kV transmission line from Ventspils to Lithuania

Latvia’s electricity transmission system operator AS "Augstsprieguma tīkls" (AST) has signed a contract with international consultant "Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment" SIA to prepare the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for the construction of a new 330 kV transmission line from Ventspils through Brocēni to Varduva/Telši in territory of Latvia. 

Following a public procurement process, the "Estonian, Latvian & Lithuanian Environment" SIA (ELLE) was announced as tender winner and contract with ELLE was signed for a total value of EUR 798 750. The EIA is fully financed by the European Union from Recovery and Resilience Facility REPowerEU plan. The transmission line development is included in Latvian and Europe transmission network development documents, making the project eligible for additional EU co-financing. 

‘The current 110 kV lines — ‘Ventspils–Kuldīga–Brocēni’ and ‘Brocēni–Priekule’—were built in the previous century. Taking into account existing and future electricity consumption and generation growing needs in the Baltic region, these lines need to be fully replaced with a higher-capacity solution. This project will improve the reliability and stability of Latvia’s electricity system, increase the Baltic states’ energy independence, and allows to integrate bigger amount of renewable energy sources to the transmission network. The EIA is a crucial step in transmission infrastructure planning to ensure that electricity transmission development is balanced with the needs of local communities, landowners, and environmental considerations, ‘said Arnis Daugulis, Member of the Board at AST. 

The project planned to be constructed as combined 110/330 kV transmission line solution from Ventspils to Baltaiskrogs (in Zaņa Parish, Saldus Municipality), whereas from Baltaiskrogs to the Latvian-Lithuanian border in Latvia the new 330 kV line will be constructed. As part of the project, the existing 330 kV substations in Ventspils and Brocēni will be extended or new 330kV substations will be constructed. 

In the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025, according to the Latvian legislation and Energy and Environmental Agency guidelines, AST organised initial public discussions in the Ventspils, Kuldīga, and Saldus counties and informed representatives of the respective municipilapities about the proposed initiative. The selected consultant will prepare the right-of-way and EIA studies for the Ventspils–Brocēni–Varduva/Telši route in Latvian territory. After completion of the EIA report, the public discussion will be organized in the crossed municipalities. 

The consultant will carry out inspections of the proposed line route, evaluate alternative routes, and consider municipality territorial planning, protected environmental areas, and other relevant factors during the pre-design phase. The EIA process will involve experts across multiple disciplines, including hydrogeologists, ornithologists, and landscape specialists. 

The Environmental Impact Assessment is planned to be completed by May 2026. Technical design work is tentatively planned for 2027–2028, with construction expected between 2028 and 2032. 

About AS Augstsprieguma tīkls

AST is Latvia's power transmission system operator, which ensures continuous, secure and sustainably efficient power transmission throughout Latvia. Its vision is to become the region's leading transmission system operator, which implements development-oriented changes efficiently and successfully. AST owns 68.46% of shares in the natural gas transmission and storage system operator AS Conexus Baltic Grid.