On 9 July 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a draft regulation on the allocation of funding from the Just Transition Fund (JTF) to the Vidzeme, Latgale, Kurzeme and Zemgale planning regions for the assessment of peat burning facilities in municipalities and the inventory of historical peat extraction sites and the development of reclamation plans, drafted by the Ministry of Smart Administration and Regional Development.
The aim of the Planning Regions project is to promote the rehabilitation of historical peat extraction sites by collecting data on historical peat extraction sites covering at least 9000 hectares of municipal and private properties, their condition and identifying the most appropriate type of rehabilitation for each site. It would also identify the use of peat combustion plants in heating services organised by Latvian municipalities and explore alternatives for adapting plants to the use of renewable resources. Municipalities and individuals with reclamation plans for historical peat extraction sites or solutions for replacing peat incinerators will be able to apply for funding from the JTF.
The total planned funding for the planning regions' project is EUR 2.25 million, including JTF funding of EUR 1.92 million and state budget co-financing of at least EUR 338.13 thousand.
In addition, the project will develop guidelines, involving experts in the field, to establish a procedure for recognising the fact of reclamation, socio-economic benefits and ecosystem services provided from historic peat extraction sites, in accordance with the regulatory framework.
The project implementation areas are within the territorial scope of the Equitable Realignment Plan, which determines the availability of JTF funding for the Kurzeme, Latgale, Vidzeme and Zemgale statistical regions according to the NUTS level 3 nomenclature of statistical territorial units in force on 25 November 2022. The project does not cover territories located in the national cities of Riga and Jurmala, the municipalities of Adazi, Limbaži, Ogre, Ropazu, Kekava, Marupe, Olaine, Salaspils, Saulkrasti, Sigulda and Tukums. The selection and monitoring of project applications will be carried out by the Central Finance and Contracting Agency. The project has to be implemented by 31 December 2026. Please keep up-to-date with the latest information on project selection on the website of the Central Financial and Contracts Agency: https://www.cfla.gov.lv/lv/2021-2027-projektu-atlases.
