Latvia must join Europe's gas solidarity mechanism - MP Golubeva

RIGA - Latvia must join Europe's gas solidarity mechanism, the Saeima press service quoted European Affairs Committee chair Marija Golubeva as saying Tuesday. 

"Latvia needs to join the European gas solidarity mechanism and to become a role model as a country that is able to cut gas consumption as required and at the same time ensure energy safety," Golubeva said. 

The Saeima European Affairs Committee on Tuesday approved Latvia's national position for a meeting of the European Union's (EU) Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, taking place in Brussels today. 

As reported, EU member states have agreed an emergency gas plan that aims to soften the impact of a potential total stoppage in Russian gas supplies. The plan provides for a voluntary 15 percent reduction in member states' natural gas consumption between August 1, 2022 and March 31, 2023.

In addition, a mechanism will be created to trigger a bloc-wide alert in the event of  widespread gas shortages and to implement binding savings targets.

Representatives of the Economics Ministry informed lawmakers that Latvia has already met the target for the reduction of gas consumption. In the second quarter of this year, Latvia's gas consumption dropped 32 percent from the previous period. Latvia has also stored two terawatt hours large gas reserves in its underground facility in Incukalns, the ministry said.