The Saeima¹ has adopted and
the President has proclaimed the following law:

On Skulte Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal

Section 1. Purpose and Scope of Application of the Law

(1) The purpose of the Law is to strengthen the stability of the Latvian energy supply routes and to create legal preconditions for the promotion of the successful development of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal.

(2) The Law determines the status of an object of national interest for the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal and the application of such status.

Section 2. Skulte Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal and the Status Thereof

(1) The Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal is a liquefied natural gas facility located in the aquatorium of the Port of Skulte and connected to the natural gas transmission system.

(2) The status of an object of national interest is determined for the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal, its pipeline connection to the natural gas transmission system, and related structures.

(3) The Cabinet shall determine the following:

1) the objects and territory necessary for the construction of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal;

2) the protection zone of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal and related structures if it is provided for in other laws and regulations;

3) conditions for the use of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal.

Section 3. Environmental Impact Assessment

(1) If the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau has determined in the environmental impact assessment programme of the intended activity the authorities or organisations that shall be consulted or to which the environmental impact assessment report shall be submitted before the submission thereof to the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau for giving an opinion, the authorities or organisations shall provide a reply to the initiator of the intended activity within seven working days from the receipt of a consultation request or the submission of the environmental impact assessment report to the relevant authority or organisation. Any objections or proposals of authorities or organisations provided after expiry of the specified term shall not be binding on the initiator of the intended activity and shall not be included in the environmental impact assessment report.

(2) If the environmental impact assessment has been carried out for the construction of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal and related structures in accordance with the provisions of the law On Environmental Impact Assessment and the environmental impact assessment report has been prepared, the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau shall issue an opinion on this report within 45 days from the receipt thereof. If the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau requests information from the initiator of the environmental impact assessment of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal in accordance with the provisions of Section 20, Paragraph two of the law On Environmental Impact Assessment, the term for giving an opinion shall be extended for a period within which the initiator has provided information. If necessary, the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau may extend the term for giving an opinion in accordance with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Law, but for not more than one month.

(3) If the environmental impact assessment has been carried out for the construction of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal and related structures in accordance with the provisions of the law On Environmental Impact Assessment and an opinion of the State Environmental Monitoring Bureau has been received, the Cabinet shall, within 30 days, take the decision to accept or refuse the acceptance of the intended activity.

Section 4. Special Provisions

(1) The provisions of Section 19, Paragraph three of the Marine Environment Protection and Management Law shall not apply to the construction work of the Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal and related structures.

(2) The Skulte liquefied natural gas terminal and related structures shall be accepted for service until 15 September 2024.

The Law shall come into force on the day following its proclamation.

The Law has been adopted by the Saeima on 29 September 2022.

Acting for the President, Chairperson of the Saeima I. Mūrniece

Rīga, 4 October 2022

¹The Parliament of the Republic of Latvia

Translation © 2023 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)