State energy company Latvenergo is planning to increase the price of heat supplied from its TEC-1 and TEC-2 combined heat and power plants to Riga, Riga Mayor Viesturs Kleinbergs (Progressives) said in an interview with TV3 on Monday.
Such a move would affect the final heating tariff charged to residents by Rīgas siltums. Kleinbergs described the planned changes as a matter of responsibility for the Ministry of Economics.
The mayor reiterated his proposal that the municipal leadership will seek an agreement with the government that would allow the Riga municipality to become the majority shareholder in Rīgas siltums.
Asked about the impact of changes in the national governing coalition on relations within the Riga City Council—where the Progressives remain part of the ruling coalition despite being excluded from the national government coalition—Kleinbergs said that,
as mayor, his primary concern is that Latvia has a functioning government capable of addressing key issues.
Regarding infrastructure projects, Kleinbergs stated that the municipality will not launch many major new street reconstruction projects this summer, focusing instead on completing those already underway. He promised that between 20 and 30 new pedestrian crossings would be created during the summer and that additional “safe zones” would be established around schools.
Commenting on controversial traffic changes on Vārnu Street that have generated public dissatisfaction, Kleinbergs said he sees the main problem as a lack of communication and information. However, he declined to comment on the substance of the street closure itself and did not indicate that the decision would be reconsidered.
The mayor also argued that the municipality lacks sufficient influence over the Port of Riga, where decisions should be taken to better accommodate the arrival of larger ferry vessels.
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