Court Opens Case Over Government's Refusal to Approve "K2 Ventum" Wind Farm

The Administrative District Court in Latvia has opened an administrative case following a claim by the company "K2 Ventum" over the Cabinet of Ministers' refusal to approve its wind farm in Saka parish, South Kurzeme municipality. The company wants the government's order of 31 August this year declared unlawful and a favourable administrative act issued approving the project, according to the court's decision.

The court's decision

The court has named the Cabinet and the State Environmental Service as respondents. Within a month of the claim being sent, both must submit a written explanation and copies of documents relevant to the case. Participants have until 13 November 2026 to state whether the association "Piekraste rītdienai" should be admitted as a third party. The decision cannot be appealed.

The company's arguments

"K2 Ventum" board member Agris Kalniņš says the order was adopted without reasoned justification, the company was not properly heard, the deadline for issuing the act was not met, and the draft order was substantially changed on the day of the decision. According to him, the draft submitted for coordination on 19 August differed by about 60% from the version the government adopted. The company also says it was denied the chance to attend the Cabinet meeting.

The company states that the environmental impact assessment lasted more than three years and included five public hearings, and that the Energy and Environment Agency concluded the plan could be carried out if certain conditions were met. The project envisages up to 46 wind turbines with a total capacity of up to 322 megawatts. The company's preliminary estimate of a possible claim reaches up to 120 million euros.

The government's reasoning

The Ministry of Climate and Energy explained that the repeat public hearing demanded by the government had not taken place and that differing legal opinions remained on building wind turbines in the coastal protection zone. The ministry also acknowledged that the statutory 30-day deadline was not met, but considers that this alone does not entitle the company to a positive decision.

Kaspars Gorkšs, director general of the Employers' Confederation of Latvia, earlier criticised how the decision was prepared, pointing to the draft being changed on the morning of the meeting.