The transport and communications sector is important in National
development, particularly considering the ideal geographic
location of Latvia. In 2000, employment in the transport field was
8.6% of the total, and the value of produced service was 16.2% of
Latvia's GDP.
Between 1990 and 1997, cargo traffic decreased by two times. In
1997, cargo transport by water provided 61.8% of the total
transport. Beginning in 1998, when cargo ships of Latvia
re-registered in foreign countries, the total cargo traffic
decreased even more.
Passenger traffic plummeted by 3.4 times between 1990 and 1993,
but then stabilized. One of the main reasons for this decline was
major price increases, in 1992 by 1199% and in 1993 by 302%.
During 1997-1999, the total cargo traffic minimally
changed, and the energy resource consumption was stable. The
emissions generated by the transport sector (eco-efficiency of
the transport and communication sectors) increased: carbon
oxides by 14.3%, and volatile organic compounds by 12.5%. Nitrogen
oxide emissions remained at previous levels (Figure 3.40). However,
the statistics for air pollution by the transport sector are far
from accurate, as data are taken from stationary air pollution
sources and not from mobile sources.
The environmental profile of the transport sector
indicates that VOCs dominate among pollutants. Also, the VOC
pollution contributed by the transport sector accounts for 56.2%
of the total VOC emissions.
In 1997, energy consumption by automobile transport had
increased by 71.1%, and traffic by 51.8%, in comparison to that in
1996. Transport through pipelines in 1997 consumed the same amount
of energy as in 1996, and the transported amounts did not change,
but in 1998 the energy consumption increased by 21.9% and the
transported amounts by 9.4%. The greater increase in energy
consumption than transported amounts in pipelines suggests
insufficient efficiency in exploitation.
The transport load in Latvia for rail cargo in 2000 was
10.6% greater than for road transport. Cargo by water, which
serves foreign trade, combines loads from both rail and road
transport.
Length and structure of transport roads have been stable in
recent years, excepting for gas pipelines, which have increased in
total length by 7.2% since 1990.
The number of transport vehicles has steadily increased
since 1994 by an average of 15% yearly.
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