At present the district of Pape - Perkone is relatively clean and HELCOM has put it on the list of Baltic Sea regions that must be internationally protected. The authorities in Ventspils fear that the construction of the terminal means a new threat to the water plants and sprats' spawning places in this region, as well as to the migrating water birds. In addition, tourist and health resorts in both Lithuania and on the Latvian side would be affected by the terminal.
There have already been incidents which have shown the sensitivity of this area, e.g. the catastrophe that happened in the beginning of the past summer near the coasts of Kurzeme as well as the tanker accident "Globe Asumi" in 1981 at Klaipeda. According to the authorities in Ventspils the construction of such a terminal threatens not only the coasts of Latvia but the whole Baltic Sea in general. Along the coasts of the Baltic Sea, there are already a number of oil and oil product terminals in which the capacity is not completely used. The environmental authorities in Ventspils are wondering, if it is necessary to build still another terminal.
For further information and comments, please contact Ms Ilga Zilniece, Head of Environment Supervision Department of Ventspils City Council, fax. +371 36 22929.
