Ecology, Energy, Latvia, Legislation, Port, Transport

The State Environmental Service’s inspector together with representatives of the Freeport of Riga’s Port Police inspected the companies operating in Kundzinsala and Bolderaja and found that oil products were being reloaded at PARS Terminals at the maximum capacity today. Westerly winds were carrying smelly evaporations from the oil terminal on the island of Kundzinsala across the River Daugava to Vecmilgravis.

After measurements were made and oil products samples taken at the terminal, an administrative procedure was started against PARS Terminals, Buklevica said.

Freeport of Riga Board Chairman Andris Ameriks said on Twitter that if the information provided by the State Environmental Service reveals violations on the part of a company operating in the port’s territory, the board will decide on further steps and might even order the terminal’s shutdown.

The State Environmental Service has ordered the oil terminal to provide information on the circumstances that caused the noxious odor to spread in the port’s neighborhood and on the reloaded oil products’ ingredients. After receiving this information and analyzing the samples, the State Environmental Service will decide on sanctions against the terminal.

Today, the State Environmental Service received complaints about the obnoxious odor from more than 30 residents of Vecmilgravis.

The State Environmental Service also asked B.L.B. Baltijas Terminalis to reduce the speed on reloading works in order to stop the odor from spreading in Vecmilgravis. Buklevica said.

After it was established that B.L.B. Baltijas Terminalis was not the source of the odor, the inspectors went to check other oil terminals also in Bolderaja and Kundzinsala.

As reported, paramedics were called to a high school in Vecmilgravis where two students had suddenly become sick, apparently after inhaling noxious evaporations coming from the port’s terminals.