At the meeting of the Freeport of Riga on 25 July this year it was decided to purchase and install two new air quality monitoring stations, one of which will be located in the northwest of the newly built multifunctional Russian island terminal, while the other – in the immediate vicinity of the inhabitants of Riga – near the terminal in Bolderāja district – Lielupes Street district. The equipment will be installed and work will begin before October of this year.
“The second phase of the development project of the Russian island terminal is coming to a close, and the moment when the transfer of coal from the centers close to the center of Riga will be diverted to the new multifunctional terminal on the Russian island is no longer behind the mountains. Taking care of the quality of life of the inhabitants of the terminal and in accordance with the Environmental Impact Statement of the Environment State Bureau, a decision has been taken on the purchase and installation of air quality monitoring stations. An additional 23 meters high wind fence, which is currently being built on the territory of the Russian Isle, with the aim of undermining the influence of prevailing winds on the release of coal dust into the environment, will further strengthen the belief that the terminal meets the highest environmental standards, “said Andris Ameriks, the chairman of the Freeport of Riga Authority.
According to the technical specification for procurement, technical equipment for monitoring stations, dust analyzers, it is necessary to be able to separate the dust fraction of PM10 from other dust particles and to provide simultaneous measurements of the concentration of this fraction in the air with at least two measurement methods and comply with all the requirements and standards of the European Commission. These stations will run online, providing continuous measurement data transmission. In addition, if necessary, the monitoring stations with the equipment can also be moved to another location.
The contract for the purchase of air quality monitoring stations, concluded as a result of an open tender, provides for the supply, installation, continuous measurement of air quality and technical maintenance of these stations.
In 2012, the Freeport of Riga Authority launched a project “Development of Infrastructure for the Transfer of Port Activities from the City Center to the Russian Isle” in order to relieve the city center of coal from coal and to transfer transshipment of coal to new terminals equipped with modern technology on the Russian island. On December 31, 2015, the core infrastructure of the Russian island terminal was completed, during which four deep water berths (15.5 m) with a total length of 1180 meters and the necessary access and engineering infrastructure were created.
In parallel with the additional infrastructure construction commenced by the Freeport of Riga Authority in September 2017, stevedores are engaged in the construction of administrative and technological buildings, as well as installation of specialized coal unloading, crushing, transporting and loading facilities.
