OREANDA-NEWS. On 18 May 2009 was announced, that the first reconstructed power unit of the Riga thermal power station no. 2 (TEC-2) was officially opened. It is considered the biggest newly built industrial object in the history of reinstated Latvia.

The event was attended by the Guest of Honour — Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, who visited the TEC-2 during his stay in Latvia.

Also Valdis Zatlers, the President of the Republic of Latvia, Artis Kampars, the Minister of Economics, Mr. Ignacio S. Galan, the Chairman of the Board of Iberdrola, Mr. Ramon de Miguel, the Chairman of the Board of Iberdrola Ingenieria y Construccion SAU, and Mr. Alberto Sicre, the Executive Director of Iberdrola, participated in the official event. During the opening, Karlis Mikelsons, the CEO of Latvenergo AS, addressed and welcomed the guests.

K. Mikelsons: “This investment strengthens the positions of Latvenergo since new technologies and equipment are of a great value in this business. Moreover, every household and Latvian entrepreneur will benefit from the TEC-2.”

K. Mikelsons: “Latvia is the only Baltic State that has opened its electricity market and Latvenergo has to operate in a changing market environment: we have to find our position in Latvia and be competitive in the whole region.”

The reconstructed TEC-2 provides 600 MWel electric and 1,124 MWth heating capacity. Currently, the station is the most modern electricity and heating station in the Baltic region, and it increases the power supply safety in Latvia. The new power unit with a 420 MW capacity has significantly increased the power efficiency of the TEC-2 and has decreased Latvian power supply dependency by 30%. It is expected that, when put into operation, the new power unit will reduce the import of electricity by 1,400 GWh a year on average.

The Riga TEC-2 is the biggest thermal power station in Latvia. In years 1973–1992, the first water boilers were put into operation and in 1975–1979 four power steam boilers and turbines were introduced.

On May 26, 2004, due to the rapidly increasing wear-and-tear of the TEC-2 equipment, the Supervisory Board of Latvenergo AS approved the necessity to reconstruct the station after hearing the viewpoint of the Management of the power generation company and competent specialists of the Riga thermal power station no. 2.

Following this approval, on March 15, 2005, Latvenergo announced a tender of a draft project development for the Riga TEC-2 reconstruction. Three tenderers applied: Siemens, Alstom Power and Iderdrola.

On August 17, 2005, the winner was announced and Spanish company Iberdrola Ingenieria y Consultoria S.A.U./Iberdrola Generacion S.A.U. (Iberdrola) was chosen as the constructor of the new power unit of the Riga TEC-2.

On December 8, 2005, Latvenergo AS and Spanish company Iberdrola signed an agreement on the large-scale reconstruction of Riga thermal power station no. 2 and its maintenance. The deal stipulated the construction for 178 million Euros and the maintenance of the new power unit for 95 million Euros. After signing the agreement on January 13, 2006, preparation works of the Riga thermal power station no. 2 reconstruction site were started. On September 13, 2006, in Acone, Riga district, an official construction of the new gas turbine power unit with a 400 megawatt (MW) capacity of the Riga thermal power station was started.

On January 13, 2009, Latvenergo AS and Spanish company Iberdrola signed a Conveyance Agreement which fully stipulated a commence of the commercial operation of the new power unit of the Riga TEC-2. Beforehand, the power unit operated in a test mode for several months.

With an effective use of fuel, the new power unit will generate three times more electric power per one heating unit and reduce the station's impact on environment to minimum.

Having in mind Latvenergo’s AS closer approach to environmental issues, during the official opening event, K. Mikelsons stressed: “With every renewed generation object we become a more environmentally friendly company, which is also relevant. Previously, both heat-electric generating plants were running on the oils; now we use gas, an environmentally more friendly resource, to generate the electricity. Besides, if we take into consideration that around 60% of the total amount of the electricity is generated in hydropower stations, Latvenergo can be regarded as one of the greenest electricity generating companies in Europe.”

In honour of the official opening of the new power unit of the Riga thermal power station no. 2 (TEC-2), Latvenergo AS has made an educational and informative movie about the reconstruction of the TEC-2. It shows the construction of the power unit of the electricity production facility starting from laying the foundation-stone till putting it into the operation at the end of 2008.

The movie reflects the construction process and its backstage, so that viewers can get acquainted with the preparation works of the building site and the transportation of the technical components. In the movie, Latvenergo AS managers and experts, as well as Latvian scientists and politicians provide explanations and comments.