Russia’s Gazprom cuts off gas supplies to Latvia, Riga says it 'won't have major impact'

Edijs Saicans, deputy state secretary on energy policy at Latvian Ministry of Economics, has said that Latvia does not expect Gazprom's move to cut supply of gas to Baltic nation to have any major impact, Sky News reported. statement of Saicans comes after Russian energy giant Gazprom announced halting gas supplies to Latvia. In a statement released on Twitter, Gazprom said that it h stopped gas export to Latvia "due to violation of conditions established for gas withdrawal."

Russian energy corporation Gazprom did not share details of violation of conditions. Previously, Gazprom suspended supply of gas to or European Union nations, including Nerlands, Poland, Finland and Denmark as y failed to pay for Russian gas in rubles. Furrmore, Gazprom reduced natural gas supply to Europe to 20% of capacity citing technical conditions. announcement of Gazprom comes just days after Latvian state company Latvijas Gaze (Latvian Gas) announced that it has started purchasing gas from Russia, LRT reported citing Latvia’s public brocaster LSM. However, Latvijas Gaze ded that y were not buying gas from Russian energy corporation Gazprom. Aigars Kalvitis, he of Latvijas Gaze, said that Latvia imported around one terawatt hour (TWh) of natural gas from Russia in June. 

Latvia buying gas from Russia but not Gazprom: Aigars Kalvitis

Aigars Kalvitis said that y were buying gas from Russia but not Gazprom, as per LRT news report. However, he did not reveal name of supplier citing "commercial information" which y do not speak about in public space. He stressed that y paid for Russian gas in euros and not rubles. It is pertinent to note here that EU nations have been making efforts to reduce dependency on Russian energy after Moscow launched an offensive in Ukraine on February 24. Earlier this month, Latvian Parliament approved amendments to Energy Law, prohibiting natural gas imports from Russia. decision of Latvian parliament is set to take effect from January 1, 2023. amendments to Energy law permit Latvijas Gaze to import natural gas into Latvia's Incukalns underground gas facility until August 31 to ensure an equate supply of gas for winter. 

Image: AP/Facebook/IzleIndriksone