In Riga, the use of coal for heating will be prohibited from now on, while all heating equipment must be registered.

This is provided for by the binding regulations adopted today by the Riga City Council regarding territorial zones for the selection of heat production methods and requirements for the registration of equipment.

The binding regulations define the territorial zones of the Riga municipality where the levels of various emissions will be restricted.

The territorial zones were determined by taking into account the spatial dispersion of nitrogen dioxide and fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) air pollution, as well as the spatial dispersion and contribution of individual and local heating equipment emissions to the overall pollution level.

The number of residents subject to the impact, the land use type, and the availability of the centralised district heating system were also taken into account.

The first zone, which provides for stricter restrictions, is set in the city centre, excluding Vecrīga. It starts from Elizabetes iela and is defined up to Pērnavas iela and Klijānu iela. In the southern part, it starts from Satekles iela and extends to the Skanste iela area. Separate areas of the first zone have also been designated in Čiekurkalns, Teika, Dārzciems, Maskavas forštate and in Pārdaugava around Āgenskalns.

The second zone will cover the largest area in Pārdaugava from Ulmaņa gatve to the city border, as well as part of Āgenskalns and other separate locations throughout the city.

The entire remaining territory of Riga is designated as the third zone.

In all three zones, it will be prohibited to build, replace or install stationary equipment that uses coal for the production of heat or electricity, or for supplying technological processes.