Public consultation announced: NorSAF SAF & eSAF plant in Liepāja SEZ
A public consultation has been announced for LSEZ SIA “NorSAF”’s planned sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and synthetic aviation fuel (eSAF) production facility in Liepāja Special Economic Zone, including green hydrogen production and a CO2 storage/handling terminal. Here’s what is currently known, what the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process will cover, and how stakeholders can participate.
EVENTSNEWS
HydrogenLatvia
2/21/20262 min read
Latvia’s State Environmental Service has applied the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure to LSEZ SIA “NorSAF”’s proposed development in the Liepāja Special Economic Zone (LSEZ):
A sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and synthetic aviation fuel (eSAF) production plant
Green hydrogen (H2) production
A CO2 storage and handling/transfer terminal
The EIA step signals that the project’s potential environmental effects will be assessed in a structured process, with opportunities for public input.
Feedstocks and the decarbonisation logic
According to the published notice, the planned fuel production would use:
Bioethanol sourced from renewable resources
“Green” hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable electricity
CO2 as an industrial by-product from other sectors
In simple terms, the concept aims to replace fossil jet fuel with SAF/eSAF and to use captured CO2 as an input, potentially reducing net emissions in aviation while also creating a destination for CO2 streams from other industries.
Location and land use in the port/industrial area
The project is planned within an existing transshipment terminal area in the LSEZ, including sites at:
Ziemeļu iela 19C
Ventspils iela 59
Pulvera iela 25
Pulvera iela 8A
In addition, the notice indicates plans to lease further areas at Pulvera iela 8, 15 and 23. The approach described is to adapt existing buildings and process equipment already used for similar chemical substances, with some expansion of supporting infrastructure.
Why the EIA matters (and what to watch)
For projects combining fuel synthesis, hydrogen production and CO2 handling, the EIA process is where key questions should be addressed transparently, including:
Air emissions and odour/noise risks during construction and operation
Water use, wastewater, and potential impacts on the marine/port environment
Chemical safety, storage and transport risks (including hydrogen and CO2 logistics)
Cumulative impacts in an already industrialised zone
Emergency preparedness and monitoring requirements
The initial consultation phase is the moment for stakeholders to flag what should be in scope before the EIA programme is finalised.
Public meeting: date, place, and online access
An initial public consultation meeting is scheduled for:
Date: 4 March 2026
Time: 18:00
Venue: Liepāja Technical School (Liepājas tehnikums) assembly hall, Ventspils iela 51, Liepāja
The notice also states that it will be possible to join online; the meeting link is expected to be published on 2 March 2026 at https://environment.lv/ under “Aktualitātes”.
Why this is relevant for the Baltic energy transition
If implemented, the project would sit at the intersection of three fast-moving policy and market areas: aviation decarbonisation (SAF/eSAF), renewable hydrogen scaling, and CO2 management infrastructure. For the region, the key question is not only whether the plant can be built, but whether the surrounding ecosystem—renewable power, sustainable feedstock supply, CO2 sourcing, port logistics, and permitting—can align in a way that is both environmentally robust and economically credible.