The ruling coalition in Latvia is in agreement that the country should shut down supplies of natural gas from Russia, said Latvian PM Krisjanis Karins after a meeting of coalition parties on April 4.
The PM stressed that gas supply-wise Latvia would be independent from Russia, and this would be accomplished by resolving related issues, including procurement of liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Currently Latvia’s Minister of Economics Janis Vitenbergs is on a visit to the US. Once he has returned to Latvia, the government expects a solution from the Ministry of Economics, says Karins.
The PM mentioned that after receiving a report from the Ministry of Economics next week, the government might conceptually make a decision in regards to the way Latvia would implement cessation of imports of Russian natural gas.
During his visit to the US, Vitenbergs met with potential investors for the regional LNG terminal project, said the PM. Latvia works with Estonia and Finland to develop additional natural gas pumping capacity, said the PM.
Karins said energy security-wise Latvia had previously secured the controlling package of shares in Incukalns underground gas storage facility.
Minister of Justice Janis Bordans said it was a matter of the country’s existence, stressing that it was absolutely necessary to shut down imports of natural gas from Russia. It needs to be done as soon as possible through an appropriate procedure while providing residents and the national economy the necessary energy, said the politician.
Bordans said in the past construction of an LNG terminal in the vicinity of Incukalns gas storage facility was intentionally or unintentionally slowed. This may create dangerous situations and needs to be resolved quickly, said the politician. The minister said someone might try lobbying Estonia’s terminal, which would be more expensive.
Ministry of Economics parliamentary secretary Ilze Indriksone said shutting down imports of Russian gas was important for every Latvian resident that could see and understand what was happening in Ukraine at the moment.
“The first steps have already been made and the procedure continues. We have considered several different scenarios. We can see there is an opportunity to do it. We can secure our consumption in the next heating season with short-term solutions, but in the long term we need to resolve the issue of dropping fossil fuels in general,” said Indriksone.
She said in the long-term it was necessary to consider using wood chips and peat in the energy sector.
Chairman of Attistibai/Par! Saeima faction Juris Puce mentioned it was clear that if Latvia shut down imports of Russian gas, it would mean increased expenses for residents and the need to change energy consumption habits.
“We will need to change ourselves and our habits. But we need to do it as rationally as possible, so that it does not impact our economy and people’s lives much. On the other hand, we might not have any other option. It is best to prepare for it,” said Puce.
He and Indriksone invited Latvia’s society to think about their consumption and consider if it was necessary to keep using Russian energy resources. (BNN/Business World Magazine)