Latvijas Gaze                                               09.02.2005.



Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage acquires Environmental management certificate ISO 14001 : 1996



JSC “Latvijas Gaze” informs that on 2 February joint stock company’s “Latvijas Gaze” 

maintenance department “Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage” will receive Environmental 

management certificate ISO 14001:1996. Bureau Veritas Quality International that 

represents classification company Bureau Veritas is the issuer of this certificate.

Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage (IUGS) is not only a significant object for energy 

and economy of Latvia and Baltic region, but it is also a complicated technical object 

that ensures storage of up till 4.4 billion cubic meters of natural gas and yearly 

movement of more than 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas – by injecting and 

withdrawing from that. One of JSC “Latvijas Gaze” priorities is safe and environmentally 

friendly operation of IUGS that is approved by acquisition of Environmental management 

certificates ISO 14001:1996.

Notwithstanding that JSC “Latvijas Gaze” carries out regular storage’s technical, 

geological and influence on environment evaluations, we have moved one step ahead and 

implemented Environmental management standards in JSC “Latvijas Gaze” maintenance 

department “Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage”, that performs injection of natural gas 

into porous layer, storage of natural gas and extraction of natural gas (withdrawal 

from underground).

To increase safety of processes mentioned and to carry out environmentally safe operation 

at maintenance department “Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage” in conformity with 

requirements of the standard ISO 14001:1996 new environmental policy was elaborated and 

implemented. Its main tasks are:



·	To comply with requirements of RL environmental legislation and normative acts. 

·	To decrease object’s currents and perspective operations impact on environment 

by implementing new technologies, modernizing technological processes and equipment, as 

well as achieving safety level of the object corresponding world experience indicators.

·	Continuous education of employees, by acquainting them with significant issues 

about object’s impact on environment, and by such means ensuring implementation of 

environmental policy’s aims. 

·	In cooperation with state, municipalities and public organizations, timely and 

objectively inform those about object’s current and potentially possible impact on 

environment. 

JSC “Latvijas Gaze” plans to invest 54 million lats in IUGS till the year 2010 to ensure 

safe, environmentally friendly and stable operation of IUGS. Main tasks that are planned 

to be performed:

·	reconstruction of compressor department No. 1

·	reconstruction of methanol system 

·	reconstruction of drills

·	reconstruction of collection points 

·	improvement of current technological process management system 



Inčukalns Underground Gas Storage was established in 1968 to ensure continuous supply 

of natural gas to consumers irrespectively of seasonal fluctuations. During summer 

season natural gas is being injected into storage, but during heating seasons it is 

being withdrawn and supplied to consumers in Latvia, Estonia and Russia. By enlarging 

the storage, it would be possible to supply natural gas also to Lithuania and Finland. 

In 2004 total volume at natural gas storage was 4,445 billion cubic meters including 

2,145 billion cubic meters of buffer gas and 2.300 billion cubic meters of working 

gas (optimal maximum supply volume to consumers). Natural gas is being stored in 

underground – in porous sandstone layer at depth of 700 meters.



JSC “Latvijas Gaze”