Contract has been signed regarding the removal of historical pollution with oil contamination in Ventspils

10/02/2023

Contract has been concluded between Freeport of Ventspils Authority and JSC “VentEko” concerning the remediation activities in polluted area – reduction of floating oil contamination and instalment of filtering-purifying barrier system preventing the transport of contamination to the coast of the Baltic Sea.

JSC “VentEko” was the winner of open tender regarding the remediation of historically polluted area with oil products in Ventspils announced by Freeport of Ventspils Authority. The value of contract is 3,9 million euro and expiry date of the remediation activities foreseen in contract is April 30, 2024.

This is one of the largest projects in the recent years regarding the remediation activities related to environment in Ventspils. The total budget of the project exceeds 5 million euro. The area to be remediated - the territory of the former waste water treatment plant complex “Ūdeka” at 68 Dzintaru Street and the territory of oil pipeline network at 52c Dzintaru Street - is located in the northern part of Ventspils, only 30 to few hundred meters from the Baltic Sea coast and Northern Pier of Ventspils port. The owner of the territories is Ventspils city municipality but both properties have been transferred in the possession of Freeport of Ventspils Authority.

By applying sustainable remediation technologies, the fraction of freely floating oil products in the soil will be eliminated from the contaminated area as well as at least 300-meter-long filtering-purifying barrier system will be installed in the contaminated area, parallel to the Baltic Sea coastline, thus, preventing further migration and transport of contaminated groundwater in the direction of the Baltic Sea which, in turn, will eliminate the contamination risks of the marine areas. In addition to remediation activities, public information campaign will be performed with the aim of increasing the public awareness and knowledge regarding environmental and climate-related topics.

The project “Historically Contaminated area with Oil Products in Ventspils - Former WTP “Ūdeka” (cadastre No. 27000290133) Territory and Oil Product Main Pipeline Network (cadastre No. 27000290007) - Remediation” is being implemented by Freeport of Ventspils Authority in cooperation with the Norwegian partner ‑ foundation “International Development Norway AS” as well as Latvian project partner ‑ foundation “Ventspils High Technology Park”. Project budget: 5 117 000 EUR. Norwegian Financial Mechanism programme (Norway Grants) co-financing: 4 349 450 EUR. The implementation period of the project is from July 1, 2021 to April 30, 2024.

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