The construction of the border fence on the Latvian – Belarusian border has been completed under the management of SJSC “State Real Estate”. The construction of the necessary infrastructure – patrol trails, footbridges and other solutions necessary for the protection of the border along the entire 173 kilometres of the border will continue until the end of 2024, informs Renārs Griškevičs, Chairman of the Board of the SRE.
By 2023, the construction of the fence along the land sections (112 km) was completed, and this year, step by step, by the end of July, the construction of the fence along the public waters took place. In total, almost 145 km of border fencing has been completed. Currently, under the management of the SRE, the construction of the necessary infrastructure continues, as well as the construction of other solutions in two sections – the Daugava section and the section around Lake Riču, where the border fence is not foreseen.
“We are living under the conditions of a hybrid war, when it is essential to demonstrate clear and convincing action towards our national goal of establishing the most modern surveillance of the European Union’s eastern border. The construction of the Latvian – Belarusian border fence has been carried out professionally and within the planned deadlines, so I would like to thank all those involved in the construction of the border security infrastructure, but especially the state capital companies SJSC “State Real Estate” and SJSC “Latvia State Radio and Television Centre” for their intensive work and high quality of work in the execution of the tasks entrusted to the state. This is a contribution to strengthening the security of both Latvia and the European Union,” emphasizes the Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis.
“The SRE performs the task entrusted by the Government – to manage the construction process of the Eastern Border fence and infrastructure – with the utmost sense of responsibility. We are pleased that the construction of the fence has been carried out as planned and within the deadlines, which significantly facilitates the work of the border guards in controlling the border from migrant infiltration. At the same time, it should be understood that fencing is only part of the solutions needed to protect the border. In order to truly protect the border, a multi-layered protection system is needed, improving the infrastructure for border surveillance, such as, for example, by building patrol trails, footbridges, pontoon bridges, communication towers, etc., which the SRE continues to work on, while technological and military solutions, which are being worked on by other parties, play an important role,” says Renārs Griškevičs, Chairman of the Board of the SRE.
On the land sections, where fencing has already been built last year, infrastructure works are ongoing: patrol tracks for light vehicles (up to 3,5 t) have been built for about 40 km (out of 119 km) and footbridge patrol tracks for about 15 km (out of 28 km). The construction of 1,75 km of pontoon patrol lines has been completed. These solutions allow border guards to access and control the border area.
The third or Daugava phase, in cooperation with the State Security Agency, involves the construction of six metal communication towers, access roads and a 16,7 km patrol line. Construction work has now started on five access roads and communication towers, while coordination and preparation of the construction plans for the remaining one tower and access road is ongoing. The towers and feeder roads will provide border surveillance along the Daugava.
The digging roads around Lake Riču, planned in the fourth phase, will allow border guards to move swiftly along the waterfront, thus effectively responding to possible violations – unauthorized entry of people or goods into Latvia. The sections without border fences - the 16.7 km stretch of the Daugava and the construction of the dredging road and infrastructure around Lake Riču – are planned to be completed by summer 2025.
In 2023, a 30-metre-long tunnel was put into operation, which significantly facilitates border surveillance in the area where the railway line crosses the border. The 30-tonne metal tunnel is one of the most sustainable engineering structures of its type in Latvia. Watch the video to get an idea of what has been done on the Latvian – Belarusian border.
The latest information on the construction of the Latvian – Belarusian border fence and infrastructure can be found in the project section on the SRE website.
At the end of 2021, by a special law, the process of construction of the border fence and infrastructure with Belarus was transferred to the SRE. Also in the summer of 2023, the SRE was assigned to manage, implement and supervise the construction of the Latvian – Russian border fence and infrastructure.
The total cost of the construction of the Latvian – Belarusian border fence and infrastructure and related services and works is EUR 125,35 million (including EUR 3,6 million of EU funding for the construction of communication towers and feeder roads).
The implementation of the Eastern Border Construction Project is supervised by the Outer Border Infrastructure Construction Supervisory Committee, which includes representatives from the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development, State Border Guard, State Security Agency, SJSC “Latvia State Radio and Television Centre”, SJSC “SRE”, JSC “Latvia’s State Forests”, Latvian Geospatial Information Agency and the NAF.
About the SRE
The SRE provides professional real estate management and administration for 428 building and construction properties, comprising 1073 buildings with an area of 0,99 million m2, as well as land under buildings with an area of 579 ha, and 3 295 land properties with a total area of 904 ha. The SRE is one of 17 Latvian companies that received the highest platinum award in the “Sustainability Index” of the Institute of Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability in 2023, demonstrating good governance and sustainability of its operations. The company was founded in 1996 and its 100% shareholder is the Ministry of Finance.