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The project was originally estimated to cost around EUR 29 million, but now it appears that the project will cost over EUR 50 million, the program said.

Cleaning up of the acid waste ponds in Incukalns has been halted since the State Environmental Service terminated its contract with Skonto Buve last summer.

From the original financing, EUR 16 million remains unused, the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Minister Kaspars Gerhards (National Alliance) told the television. "The government has tasked the Environmental Protection and Regional Development Ministry with finding additional funds for the project by the end of the year. In experts' opinion, the total amount could be around EUR 25 million."

Three companies' bids for implementation of the project are being considered at the moment – Belgian company DEC NV and local companies A.C.B. and Incukalns. The winning bid is to be picked by the end of the year.

The total cost of the project also depends on the outcome of the legal dispute between the State Environmental Service and Skonto Buve.

As reported, implementation of the project has got delayed were due to untypical chemical composition of the ponds and termination of the State Environmental Service's contract with Skonto Buve, the company hired for implementation of the project. The project was initially estimated to cost EUR 29 million, but later the cost increased to EUR 45.5 million.