It appears that Latvia will have enough gas for whole heating season - PM Karins

RIGA - It appears at the moment that Latvia will have enough gas for the whole upcoming heating season, Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins (New Unity) said in an interview to Latvian Radio on Tuesday, citing information from the Economics Ministry and Conexus Baltic Grid (Conexus), the operator of the Incukalns underground gas storage facility. 

The prime minister said that three months ago, Latvia's gas stocks were big enough to make it through this year, but now the storage facility is filling up with gas and the situation has improved, so Latvia will have enough gas for the whole heating season. There are still quite a few variables depending on the war in Ukraine, but all indications are more optimistic now, Karins said. 

The prime minister added that talks are ongoing with Lithuania on Latvia's access to the Klaipeda liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal and Estonia, which develops an LNG terminal in cooperation with Finland. 

Asked whether Latvia will be able to purchase more gas in case it runs out of its existing stocks, Karins said that in such a scenario there would be gas shortages not only in Latvia but in the whole region. "These are circumstances that we are not projecting at the moment. It appears that we and the others will have enough gas for the whole season, but need to keep our eyes open," the prime minister said. 

To lessen the risk of an energy crisis, the prime minister has tasked all ministries to work out  an energy saving plan for public administration.