Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Peat Country Notes

Latvia

Peatlands cover about 6 400 km², or almost 10% of Latvia's territory, with the major deposits being located in the eastern plains and in the vicinity of Riga. Of the estimated total tonnage of peat resources (1 500 million tonnes), 230 million tonnes is suitable for fuel use.

Peat has been used in agriculture and as a fuel for several hundred years: output peaked in 1973, when fuel use amounted to 2 million tonnes. By 1990, the tonnage of peat extracted had fallen by 45% and fuel use was down to only about 300 000 tonnes. There has been a steep decline in consumption since then, with deliveries to the Riga CHP-1 plant coming to an end in 2004. The production of peat briquettes ceased in 2001. Currently, only minor tonnages of peat (less than 10 000 tpa) are consumed by heat plants and industrial users.