Latvia plans new power plant

RIGA - Two foreign companies have confirmed their interest in building a power station in Latvia’s southwestern city of Liepaja, while seven more have expressed possible interest in the project, said Economy Minister Artis Kampars (Unity) in an interview with the daily Diena. The two companies expressing interest in the project are from Germany and Poland.
Kampars stressed that energy is one of his three priorities, and it is a sphere in which the state and private companies plan their activity not for three or five years, but for 20-40 years in advance. The minister noted that the country still has a lack of energy capacity, but that the next six months should clarify Latvia and the Baltic’s future policy for energy self-sufficiency.

After Slovakia, Latvia is the most energy-dependent EU country, importing 64 percent of its energy, said Environment Minister Raimonds Vejonis (Union of Greens and Farmers) in an interview with the daily Neatkariga, reports LETA. Energy is a cornerstone of the economy, and the country’s economic activity is entirely dependent on it. If this cornerstone crumbles, everyone is affected. “In terms of Latvia’s independence, we do not really have real independence, those are just words. And this is unfortunate, as now it seems that we are even more dependent than we were during the Soviet period,” claimed Vejonis.

The environment minister stressed that end-consumer use of renewable energy sources in Latvia must reach 40 percent by 2020, noting that the Economy Ministry was also in agreement with this proposal. In practice, however, the country still uses mostly fossil fuels.

Vejonis supports the idea for a liquid gas terminal in order to diversify its energy sources. “Of course, this is also a fossil fuel; however, it would provide greater independence,” said the minister.
Latvia’s decision on the construction of a new solid fuel power station near Liepaja has been backed by the European Commission. The cost of the new station could be in the region of 400 million euros.