Friday, 31 July, the reconstructed Reina Polder Pumping Station in Nīca Parish, Dienvidkurzeme Municipality, was officially opened. The Reina Polder Pumping Station has been reconstructed with funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF), representing a strategically important investment project for Latvia. The total project cost of EUR 1.8 million was financed by the Recovery and Resilience Facility* and the Latvian state budget.
Minister for Agriculture Uldis Augulis: "Modern land reclamation infrastructure is one of the prerequisites for a safe living environment and sustainable economic activity. Land reclamation systems are much more than ditches, protective dams or pumping stations – they are an essential part of safety infrastructure in rural areas. They help protect residents, buildings, businesses, agricultural and forest land, as well as roads and other important infrastructure from flood damage. Timely rehabilitation of these structures is an investment in a safer and more resilient Latvia, as climate change is making heavy rainfall and the resulting floods increasingly frequent and destructive. Therefore, the development of land reclamation infrastructure is an investment both in public safety and in strengthening the resilience of Latvia's economy to the challenges posed by climate change."
Following almost two years of construction works, the reconstruction of the Reina Polder Pumping Station, which forms part of the State land reclamation system, has been completed. The project has delivered a modern and energy-efficient pumping station that ensures more efficient water drainage from the polder area, helps protect residents, property and agricultural land from flooding, and strengthens the area's resilience to the challenges posed by climate change.
Construction works commenced in September 2024 and were completed at the end of July 2026. The Reina Polder Pumping Station and its associated hydrotechnical structures were fully reconstructed and modernised, while the surrounding area was also improved. The project included the installation of new energy-efficient pumps, an automatic trash rack cleaner, the rehabilitation of the forebay and culvert regulators, the reconstruction of the electricity supply systems, as well as the installation of fire detection, security and video surveillance systems. These improvements significantly enhance the safety, service life and operational efficiency of the hydrotechnical structures.
The modernised pumping station ensures more efficient water drainage from the Reina polder area, reduces the risk of flooding and improves the performance of the land reclamation system. This contributes to more sustainable management of agricultural land, mitigates potential flood-related losses and provides safer conditions for the area's future development.
As part of the project, a mobile pumping unit was procured to ensure emergency response in situations where the stationary pumping equipment is damaged or its capacity is insufficient to reduce dangerously high water levels caused by extreme weather events or other factors. The maximum pumping capacity of the mobile pumping unit is 1,260 m³/h, while its fuel tank capacity enables continuous operation for up to 24 hours without refuelling.
The project directly benefits more than 160 residents of Nīca Parish living within the area protected by the Reina polder system, as well as the owners and managers of nationally significant agricultural land located within the polder. The reconstruction of the Reina Polder Pumping Station, which forms part of the State land reclamation system, is a significant investment in the safety of Dienvidkurzeme Municipality and in the development of Latvia's flood risk mitigation infrastructure. The project not only improves the technical condition of the hydrotechnical structures but also strengthens the region's capacity to adapt to the challenges posed by climate change, promotes economic development and provides a safer and more sustainable living environment for local residents.
The project was implemented by the State Limited Liability Company "Real Estate of the Ministry of Agriculture" (ZMNĪ), which is responsible for the construction, maintenance and operation of the State land reclamation system and State significance land reclamation systems. The design documentation was prepared by State Limited Liability Company "Meliorprojekts", construction works were carried out by Ltd "Vidzemes būvnieks", and construction supervision was provided by Ltd "SANAT".
The Reina polder system and pumping station were constructed in 1978. After decades of operation, the pumping station had become physically and technologically obsolete, reducing its operational efficiency and increasing the risk of flooding within the polder area. Its reconstruction was therefore essential to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the State land reclamation system in the future.
Overall, under the Recovery and Resilience Facility, ZMNĪ is implementing 22 projects, including the rehabilitation and reconstruction of nine pumping stations, 12 protective dams and one canal. The total amount of support is EUR 31.7 million from the Recovery and Resilience Facility, complemented by EUR 5.4 million in co-financing from the Latvian state budget.
* The project is financed under Investment 1.3.1.2.i "Flood Risk Mitigation Infrastructure, including the Reconstruction of Polder Pumping Stations, Rehabilitation of Protective Dams and Restoration of Regulated Sections of Potamal Rivers", within Reform and Investment Direction 1.3 "Adaptation to Climate Change" of Component 1 "Climate Change and Environmental Sustainability" of Latvia's Recovery and Resilience Plan.
