Experience sharing program for Covenant of Mayors’ signatories “City2City” in Latvia – day 3

The third day of the program “From city to city” in Riga was the most intense.

On March 20, 2019 participants visited Getliņi EKO, a joint venture created by Riga and Stopinsky Krai in 2015, which manages the largest solid waste landfill in the Baltic countries – Getlini. The landfill, which is one of the most modern in Europe and the largest in the Baltic countries, is developing as a modern and safe recycling center.

After the discovery of a sorting plant on the company’s territory, all biodegradable waste is used for the production of biogas, and recyclable materials and metal products are delivered to enterprises that are engaged in their regeneration and recycling. Waste that is not recyclable is disposed of in environmentally friendly, closed biodegradable cells that are impermeable to neither air nor rainwater.

The gas generated in cells from biological waste is discharged to the Getlini power unit, where it is burned in six internal combustion engines and converted into energy – electricity and heat. Energy is generated in the following ratios: 40% – electricity and 46% – thermal energy.

The company produces approximately 35 GWh of electricity annually. Most of the generated electricity is sold to AS Latvenergo, and heat (a by-product of heat recovery when cooling internal combustion engines and flue gas) is used to support the business of the company: heating greenhouses, workplaces, water heating, heating water treatment reactors, collecting infiltration and heating recirculation basin. Getliny tomatoes, cucumbers and ampelous flowers are grown in the company’s greenhouses.

The chairman of the company’s board, Mr. Imants Stirans, introduced the program participants to the company’s main activities and infrastructure development plans, provided information on the technical and financial aspects of its management, the education system of tariffs and payment for services, and also answered numerous questions from representatives of signatory cities.

After the presentation, the program participants visited the energy block and the equipped greenhouse.

After visiting the Getliņi EKO test site, the program participants were given the opportunity to familiarize themselves with the production of LED lamps and luminaires at the Vizulo factory, located 40 km from Riga.

The company manufactures and sells LED lamps designed for street, commercial, industrial and architectural LED lighting. The company’s street lamps are installed in various cities, including the signatory cities of the Covenant of Mayors in Moldova (Cantemir) and in Armenia (Abovian).

The last point of the program was Riga 1st Hospital – the oldest civil hospital in Latvia, which for two centuries was recognized as a priority inpatient emergency and emergency care facility.

The hospital provides outpatient and planned inpatient services for diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation, as well as a cultural and historical monument of medicine, a center for medical tourism and an object of architectural heritage.

The Chairperson of the hospital, Ms. Natalia Zlobina, and a member of the board, Dr. Gennady Sevastyanov, spoke about the investment program, thanks to which the hospital acquired a new look and the latest medical equipment, having the opportunity to apply the most advanced methods and technologies that provide extensive diagnostic, outpatient and planned inpatient facilities. treatment, rehabilitation and dental services.

After the presentation participants had the opportunity to visit the main building of the hospital and get acquainted with the latest medical equipment installed in the investment program.