Energy, Investments, Latvia

July 11, Berzins met with Inese Laizane (VL-TB/LNNK), Juris Vilums (Reform Party), Gunars Igaunis (Reform Party) and Janis Lacplesis (Unity) to discuss the plant's potential construction, reported LETA.

 Laizane pointed out that the matter requires a thorough research and could be discussed this fall. "The emotional memory in Latvia is harsh and everyone would be horrified and categorically oppose this idea. Nevertheless, there is no reason not to carry out an in-depth study on the matter," said the politician.

 Lacplesis also approved of researching the matter. Vilums, however, was skeptical about the idea and pointed out that he would not trust the findings of this study conducted by those interested in the plant's construction.

 Berzins, after his weekly meeting with Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis (Unity), repeatedly stated that the plant's construction should be assessed in line with the recommendations from the Foreign Investors' Council in Latvia.

 As reported, during an interview on the on-line discussion ''Dienas rits'' on June 18, Berzins said that Latvia should evaluate the possibilities for constructing another larger hydroelectric power plant on the Daugava River. Every country must evaluate the energy resource potential and opportunities available to it, pointed out the president.

 However, Dombrovskis previously told reporters that the construction of a new hydroelectric power station on the Daugava River is currently not on the government's agenda.