Natural gas reserves are almost double last season's consumption - Economy Ministry

  • 2022-08-31
  • LETA/TBT Staff

RIGA - According to the current information, the actual natural gas reserves at the Incukalns underground gas storage facility reach 11.6 terawatt hours (TWh), and a contract has been signed with joint-stock power supply company Latvenergo for the supply of 1.3 TWh, which in total is almost twice the consumption of the previous season in the country, Economy Minister Ilze Indriksone (National Alliance) said during a meeting of the Saeima's Inquiry Committee today.

Last year, a total of 6.9 TWh of natural gas was consumed in Latvia.

The 5.6 TWh in the Incukalns natural gas storage facility belong to companies registered in Latvia, but 6 TWh are registered in the name of other countries.

The concluded contract with Latvenergo provides that additional supply in the amount of 1.3 TWh will be implemented by the end of the year. Additionally, additional natural gas supplies from Klaipeda could be expected in the first quarter of next year, the government representative said.

Indriksone noted that currently the situation is continuously improving and the amount of natural gas in storage is increasing rather than decreasing, so it could also be higher. "Regarding the availability of natural gas at the moment, looking at this situation, we are sure that it will be enough," the minister claimed.