The first large-scale production of HVO (hydrogenated vegetable oil) and SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) for the Baltic market will be established in the port of Riga with the participation of Ukrainian investors. These environmentally friendly products will help Latvia achieve its climate neutrality goals, strengthen the country’s export potential and reduce dependence on foreign fuel supplies. The plant’s production capacity will be about 236 thousand tons of raw materials per year, of which 93 thousand tons of HVO and 87 thousand tons of SAF will be produced. The project, worth up to 120 million euros, will take about 20 months to implement.
Latvian Climate and Energy Minister Kaspars Melnis noted that the new enterprise will strengthen the country’s energy independence, create 120 highly qualified jobs and ensure stable demand for agricultural crops. According to Armands Sadauskis, owner of SIA PARS TERMINALS, the project will shorten logistics chains and provide Latvian aviation, including AirBaltic, with affordable renewable fuel, which will be a strategic advantage in the context of European requirements for the use of bio-aviation fuel from 2030.
Ansis Zeltiņš, CEO of the Free Port of Riga, emphasized that the development of industrial projects related to green energy is the key to the future of the port. In addition to fuel production, projects to create infrastructure for wind turbine logistics, a solar power plant in Spilve, and participation in the BalticSeaH2 research project aimed at developing hydrogen energy were discussed.