Documented case · 2018–2023
Asbestos-contaminated soil from Riga CHP-2 (TEC-2): Acone, Ķekava, “Jaunšķelti”
In 2019, during the extension of the “TEC-2” substation in Acone, 5,478 m³ of soil was removed from the construction site. Asbestos-containing construction debris was found in it. Part of the soil was screened in Ķekava and the asbestos-containing waste was delivered to a landfill. The other part ended up in the “Jaunšķelti” quarry in Acone; there is no information that it has been removed.
In brief
247.64 tof asbestos-containing waste separated out in Ķekava and delivered to a landfill[1]
2,544 m³of soil handed over to the “Jaunšķelti” quarry[2]
Sites and parties involved
| Site | What happened there |
|---|---|
| TEC-2 site Granīta iela 31, Acone, Salaspils Municipality[5] | The construction site from which the soil was removed. Project: “Extension of the 330 kV outdoor switchgear of the “TEC-2” substation and installation of a 330 kV shunt reactor”.[2] |
| “Lādes” Ķekava Parish, cadastral designation 8070 0070 246 | 2,934 m³ of soil was brought here. The asbestos was screened out and delivered to a landfill; the site was cleaned up by 30 Aug 2019.[1] |
| “Jaunšķelti” quarry Acone, Salaspils Parish, cadastral designation 8031 0130 758 | 2,544 m³ of soil was taken here.[2] The portal has no information that the soil has been removed from the quarry (checked 01.11.2026). |
| Company / authority | Role |
|---|---|
| AS “Latvenergo” | Owner of the TEC-2 site[6] |
| AS “Augstsprieguma tīkls” | Client for the project[7] |
| SIA “EMPOWER” (50003563201), since 18 Jul 2022 SIA “Enersense” | General contractor[2][8] |
| SIA “KUBS” (44103064148) | Excavating, sorting and loading the soil[7] |
| SIA “Soltec” (44103103229), liquidated 27 Oct 2021 | Transporting the soil, including to “Jaunšķelti”[2][9] |
| SIA “EkoDem” (40103782641) | Waste management operator; accepted the soil at “Lādes”[7] |
| SIA “KARJERUIZSTRĀDE.LV” (40103773437) | Accepted the soil at the “Jaunšķelti” quarry[2] |
| SIA “EKO OSTA” | Soil contamination survey in 2018[7] |
| AS “Venteko” | Monitoring of the remediation process[1] |
| RSU Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases | Sample analysis[3][4] |
| State Environmental Service (VVD), Greater Riga Regional Environmental Board (RVP) | Supervision, decisions, initiating criminal proceedings[10][7] |
2018: before the work
- 9 Feb 2018 SIA “EKO OSTA” surveys the soil on the TEC-2 site: 9 trial pits, 2 soil samples. The survey report records no hazardous waste.[7] In 2019 the company that carried out the survey stated on a television programme that the survey had not looked for asbestos contamination.[11]
- 8 Mar 2018 A request for quotations for removing the contaminated soil, with a planned volume of 2,471 m³.[7][6] Experience of working with asbestos is listed as a requirement for bidders.[1]
- 2018 In its tender offer No. 2018/B04, SIA “EkoDem” provisionally assumes that 20% (494 m³) of the projected 2,471 m³ is soil containing hazardous waste, including asbestos, to be managed in accordance with Cabinet Regulation No. 301.[6] According to SIA “EkoDem”, the offer is sent again on 8 Oct 2018.[1]
- 11 Jan 2019 SIA “EkoDem” wins the request for quotations. According to information provided by SIA “EkoDem”, the client’s side asked for the word “asbestos” to be removed from the contract, as its presence had not been established in any documents, and the contract value fell by almost half.[1]
February 2019: asbestos in the loads
- 1 Feb 2019 Removal of the soil begins. SIA “KUBS” excavates and sorts the soil; SIA “Soltec” and SIA “EkoDem” transport it to “Lādes” in Ķekava.[1]
- 6 Feb 2019 Pieces of broken slate appear in the loads tipped at “Lādes”. Lorry drivers report pieces of thermal insulation in the soil.[7][1]
- 7–8 Feb 2019 Photos of the loads are sent to SIA “KUBS”. Similar construction debris is visible on the soil not yet removed from the TEC-2 site.[1]
- 13 Feb 2019 A load is brought to “Lādes” which, in the assessment of SIA “EkoDem”, contains a large amount of asbestos-containing construction debris. SIA “EkoDem” stops accepting loads, draws up report No. EKO001/2019 and informs the State Labour Inspectorate.[1]
- 15 Feb 2019 Work is suspended. Representatives of SIA “KUBS”, SIA “EMPOWER”, SIA “EkoDem” and AS “Venteko” meet on the TEC-2 site.[7][1]
The laboratory confirms
- 21 Feb 2019 From the loads tipped at “Lādes”, SIA “EkoDem” takes five pieces of construction debris suspected of containing asbestos (including a fragment of slate) and hands them to the RSU Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases.[1]
- 25 Feb 2019 RSU test report G/26: asbestos fibres in all the samples submitted.[3] According to SIA “EkoDem”, the result is sent to SIA “EMPOWER” and SIA “KUBS”.[1]
- 27 Feb 2019 It is agreed that from now on only clean soil will be taken to “Lādes”. Acceptance of soil resumes.[1]
- 15 Mar 2019 SIA “EkoDem” stops accepting soil completely (claim No. EKO002/2019). In total, 2,934 m³ has been brought to “Lādes”.[1]
- 18–19 Mar 2019 Six samples (TEC2-11 to TEC2-16) are taken from soil not yet removed from the TEC-2 construction site. The RSU report dates the samples 18 Mar 2019; they were delivered to the laboratory on 20 Mar 2019 by a representative of the client (SIA “EkoDem”). The sampling points were marked and photographed on 19 Mar 2019 between 17:30 and 18:08 (photo metadata, GPS: TEC-2 site).[4][12]
- 20 Mar 2019 RSU test report G/38 (polarised light microscopy, NIOSH 9002): asbestos fibres in all 6 samples submitted (method outside the laboratory’s scope of accreditation).[4] According to SIA “EkoDem”, the result is sent to SIA “EMPOWER”, SIA “KUBS” and AS “Venteko”.[1]
- 8 May 2019 In letter No. 36-17/6, “Opinion on asbestos-contaminated construction debris and waste”, the RSU Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases states: if asbestos-containing material is found in soil after demolition, the soil is to be regarded as contaminated and must be disposed of as asbestos-containing hazardous waste, because asbestos fibres are microscopic and cleaning the soil is practically impossible. If such soil is not disposed of, anyone who is on it, walks or drives on it is exposed to an asbestos-related health risk.[13]
Soil taken to “Jaunšķelti”
- 15 Mar – 29 Apr 2019 SIA “Soltec” hands over 2,544 m³ of soil from TEC-2 to SIA “KARJERUIZSTRĀDE.LV” “for disposal in the “Jaunšķelti” quarry”.[2] The period covered by the deed includes 18–19 Mar 2019, when samples were taken from soil not yet removed from the TEC-2 construction site; asbestos fibres were found in those samples on 20 Mar 2019.[4]
- According to estimates by SIA “EkoDem” and SIA “Asbestos Lab”, this soil contains approximately 350 t of asbestos-containing waste.[1]
- The portal has no information that the soil has been removed from the quarry (checked 01.11.2026).
The clean-up in Ķekava
- 10 Mar 2019 SIA “EkoDem” begins, at its own expense, to screen the asbestos-containing construction debris out of the soil delivered.[1]
- 18 Apr 2019 The first batch of screened-out asbestos is handed over to SIA “Viduskurzemes AAO” for disposal at the “Vībsteri” landfill, Remte Parish.[1]
- Early May 2019 SIA “EkoDem” informs the State Environmental Service in writing.[7][1]
- 15 May 2019 The VVD Greater Riga Regional Environmental Board inspects “Lādes”. On 17 May 2019 the soil is covered with plastic sheeting.[1]
- 24 Jul 2019 Decision No. 745-027/2019 of the Greater Riga Regional Environmental Board: the site must be cleaned up by 31 Oct 2019.[10]
- 30 Aug 2019 “Lādes” is cleaned up. From the 2,934 m³ of soil, 247.64 t of asbestos-containing waste has been separated out and delivered to a landfill.[1]
For comparison: the slate roof of a 150 m² private house weighs around 2 t.[1] The 247.64 t removed from “Lādes” corresponds to more than 120 such roofs.
Authorities, police, court
- 18 Jul 2019 SIA “EkoDem” files a report of a criminal offence with the State Police.[1]
- 20 Dec 2019 The Riga Regional Administration of the State Police opens criminal proceedings No. 11353052619 concerning possible environmental pollution at Granīta iela 31, Acone.[5]
- 2020 Civil case No. C30348920: a claim by SIA “EkoDem” against AS “Latvenergo” and SIA “KUBS” for performance of contract and compensation. On 29 Mar 2022 the Vidzeme Suburb Court of the City of Riga dismisses the claim.[14]
- 27 Oct 2021 SIA “Soltec” is liquidated (decision No. 6-12/67103 of a state notary of the Register of Enterprises, 28 Jun 2021).[9]
- 10 Jan 2022 In criminal proceedings No. 11905009321, Division 2 of the Economic Crime Enforcement Department of the State Police Central Criminal Police Department seizes documents and photographs relating to the removal of soil from TEC-2. The proceedings concern the dumping of waste and pollution of land at the “Jaunšķelti” property in Acone, detected on 25 Mar 2021.[15]
- 26 Jul 2022 In criminal proceedings No. 11816009321, an attachment is placed on 500 shares of SIA “KARJERUIZSTRĀDE.LV” worth €5,000.[7]
- 14 Jun 2023 The case is examined by the Environmental Consultative Council.[7]
How the criminal proceedings relate to one another, and their outcome, are not known to the portal (checked 01.11.2026).
What the parties say
AS “Augstsprieguma tīkls”
In 2019: learned of the asbestos only after the soil had been removed, and so could neither verify that it was there nor control its quantity. Stated that asbestos had been found at an adjacent site.[11]
SIA “EKO OSTA”
In 2019: did not look for asbestos contamination in its 2018 survey.[11]
State Environmental Service
In 2019: all the companies involved in the construction work knew about the asbestos; the cause of the dispute was a poor-quality survey of the construction site.[11] In 2023: it received information about the asbestos with a delay of approximately 3 months, when the soil had already been removed.[7]
Documents and videos
- RSU test report No. 2019 G/3820 Mar 2019. 6 samples from the TEC-2 construction site, asbestos fibres in all of them · in Latvian
- Sampling locations on the TEC-2 siteExtract from a report, samples TEC2-11 to TEC2-16 · in Latvian
- Opinion of the RSU laboratory on asbestos-contaminated construction debris and wasteNo. 36-17/6, 8 May 2019 · in Latvian
- Acceptance and handover certificate No. 8-201929 Apr 2019. 2,544 m³ of soil from TEC-2 to the “Jaunšķelti” quarry · in Latvian
- SIA “EkoDem” tender offer No. 2018/B042018. Provisionally 20% of the soil (494 m³) — hazard group A, to be managed under Cabinet Regulation No. 301 · in Latvian
- Photos of the TEC-2 construction site with metadata, 119 Feb 2019
- Photos of the TEC-2 construction site with metadata, 219 Feb 2019
Publications
- Azbesta skandāls turpinās: vides dienests soda pārmijnieku [The asbestos scandal continues: the environmental service punishes the scapegoat]Jauns.lv, 31 Aug 2019 (in Latvian). Author Elmārs Barkāns, photo Juris Rozenbergs
Hazardous asbestos found on the TEC-2 site
TV report, 2019 · in Latvian
“Latvenergo” dragged into an environmental pollution scandal
TV report, 2019 · in Latvian
Additional materials, laboratory reports and original images: [email protected].
Sources
- SIA “EkoDem” report on the soil replacement (submitted to the Greater Riga Regional Environmental Board of the VVD on 1 July 2019), correspondence and certificates; published at azbests.lv/tec2 in 2019–2022 (held by the portal)
- SIA “KARJERUIZSTRĀDE.LV” un SIA “SOLTEC” pieņemšanas-nodošanas akts Nr. 8-2019 [Acceptance and handover certificate No. 8-2019 between SIA “KARJERUIZSTRĀDE.LV” and SIA “SOLTEC”], 29 April 2019 (PDF on the “TEC-2: asbestos-contaminated soil” page)
- RSU Higiēnas un arodslimību laboratorija: testēšanas pārskats G/26 [RSU Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases: test report G/26], 25 February 2019 (held by the portal)
- RSU Higiēnas un arodslimību laboratorija: testēšanas pārskats Nr. 2019 G/38 [RSU Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases: test report No. 2019 G/38], 20 March 2019 (PDF in the “Documents” section)
- Valsts policijas Rīgas reģiona pārvalde: lēmums par kriminālprocesa Nr. 11353052619 uzsākšanu [Riga Regional Administration of the State Police: decision to open criminal proceedings No. 11353052619], 20 December 2019 (held by the portal)
- SIA “EkoDem” offer No. 2018/B04 “Par biodegradējamās masas, azbestu saturošu un celtniecības atkritumu materiālu iepirkšanu” [On the acceptance of biodegradable, asbestos-containing and construction waste materials] (valid until 1 Apr 2019) (PDF in the “Documents” section)
- Vides konsultatīvās padomes 14.06.2023. sēdes protokols, 2. jautājums: “Par potenciālo grunts piesārņojumu ar bīstamajiem azbesta būvgružiem TEC 2 teritorijā Aconē” [Minutes of the meeting of the Environmental Consultative Council of 14 June 2023, item 2: “On potential soil contamination with hazardous asbestos construction debris on the TEC 2 site in Acone”] (VARAM)
- Register of Enterprises (Lursoft): SIA “EMPOWER”, reg. No. 50003563201, renamed SIA “Enersense” on 18 July 2022
- Register of Enterprises (Lursoft): SIA “Soltec”, reg. No. 44103103229, liquidated on 27 October 2021
- VVD Lielrīgas RVP paziņojums Nr. 4.4.-12 un lēmums Nr. 745-027/2019 [Notice No. 4.4.-12 and decision No. 745-027/2019 of the Greater Riga Regional Environmental Board of the VVD], 24 July 2019 (held by the portal)
- TV3 programme “Nekā personīga” [Nothing Personal], 22 September 2019 (in Latvian)
- Original SIA “EkoDem” photographs with EXIF metadata (date, time, GPS), 2019 (held by the portal)
- RSU Higiēnas un arodslimību laboratorija: viedoklis par azbesta piesārņotiem būvgružiem un atkritumiem [RSU Laboratory of Hygiene and Occupational Diseases: opinion on asbestos-contaminated construction debris and waste], No. 36-17/6, 8 May 2019 (PDF in the “Documents” section)
- Rīgas pilsētas Vidzemes priekšpilsētas tiesa [Vidzeme Suburb Court of Riga City]: civil case No. C30348920, judgment of 29 March 2022
- Valsts policijas Galvenās kriminālpolicijas pārvaldes ENAP 2. nodaļas 10.01.2022. lēmums par izņemšanas izdarīšanu un izņemšanas protokols kriminālprocesā Nr. 11905009321 [Decision of 10 January 2022 of Division 2 of the Economic Crime Enforcement Department, Central Criminal Police Department, State Police, to carry out a seizure, and the seizure record, in criminal proceedings No. 11905009321] (held by the portal)
Content checked: 01.11.2026