In the environmental clean-up project led by the Freeport of Ventspils Authority (VBP), not only the remediation works themselves, as a result of which the Ventspils soil will be freed from historical oil pollution, but also the exchange of experience between Latvian and Norwegian specialists in the field of both the implementation of environmental projects and public education, play an important role.

The implementation of the ambitious project is possible thanks to funding from the Norwegian grant.

On September 21, 2023, we visited Latvia, by being the foreign partner of the environmental remediation project implemented in Ventspils, and getting to know and implement best practices in the field of the environment is one of the essential components of the project. During the visit, the VBP remediation facility was visited, where the historical pollution treatment is taking place – pumping works of the oil layer floating above the groundwater, as well as a filtering-cleansing barrier 300 m long parallel to the Baltic Sea coast has been installed, which will ensure that the pollution does not spread further towards the sea. We were introduced to the practical activities carried out by the project’s Latvian partner, Ventspils High Technology Park (VATP), in connection with the public awareness campaign.

Project Manager Māris Skudra presenting the project

The achieved results and planned activities until the end of the project implementation were presented at the VATP premises. IDN, together with other participants of the event, gave a lecture on Climate Change, had the opportunity to try out interactive activities, as well as take part in a practical lesson in the design workshop “RADE”.

Remediation site visit

Representatives from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Climate and Energy, the Treasury, the Norwegian Embassy, the Board of the VBP also attended the event together with IDN, and representatives of the donor country of the project from the Norwegian Environment Agency were also present, thus demonstrating and highlighting the regional importance of the project in the field of environmental clean-up.

To expand the acquired experience and knowledge, after the event in Ventspils, we were also introduced to the environmental remediation project, which is taking place in Liepaja, and is related to sediment purification in the territory of the Liepaja Canal, which, like in Ventspils, is implemented with the support of the Norwegian grant program.

The acquired knowledge, the exchange of experience between the involved parties and newly acquired contacts were useful both in the rehabilitation project implemented by the Freeport of Ventspils Authority and in relation to possible cooperation in the future in relation to environmental improvement and climate change.

The project “Historically contaminated with oil products site in Ventspils – former NAI “Ūdeka” (Kad.Nr. 27000290133) the territory and the main pipeline line of petroleum products (Kad. No. 27000290007) – remediation” are implemented by the Freeport of Ventspils Authority in cooperation with the Norwegian partner – the foundation “International Development Norway AS” and the Latvian project partner – the foundation “Ventspils High Technology Park”. Project budget: 5 117 000 EUR. The co-financing of the Norwegian Financial Mechanism (Norwegian grant) is EUR 4 349 450. The project implementation period is from 1 July 2021 to 30 April 2024.

Working together for a green Europe!